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ON 


j/*2. — # 

SELECT PORTIONS 


OF THE 

FOUR EVANGELISTS. 


PART SECOND, 

COMPRISING 

THE PRINCIPAL DISCOURSES AND PARABLES 
OF OUR LORD. 


\DESIGNED 

FOR THE HIGHER CLASSES IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 


By JOSEPH ALLEN, 

4 44 

MINISTER OF NORTHBOROUGH, MASS. 

V \ 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY GRAY AND BOWEN. 

183 1 . 




■giS a s-5* 

,JW 


* 


Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1831, 
by Gray & Bowen, 

in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 







CAMBRIDGE : E. W. METCALF AND CO., 
Printers to the University. 



iec, it? -£>a 


PREFACE. 



classes in Sunday Schools, consists of questions 
on the moral and preceptive portions of the Four 
Evangelists ; and, together with the former part, 
published the last year, comprises a connected 
view of the life and instructions of Jesus Christ. 

The plan of the work, as was stated in the 
Preface to the former volume, is taken from a 
manual, entitled 4 Union Questions,’ prepared by 
Harvey Fisk, and extensively used in the Sun¬ 
day schools in the United States. For a further 
account of the origin and design of the work, the 
author would refer to the abovenamed Preface. 

In regard to the present volume, he would say, 
that the labor of preparation has been much more 
considerable, than one would suppose, who should 
judge from the size of the book. The author 
has endeavoured, with what success the public 
must decide, to construct the questions in such a 
manner as to elicit, or to suggest, the meaning of 
the more difficult texts ; yet not so as to dispense 



2 Lesson I. — Luke iv. 18, 19. 

Were they intended only for the poor ? Luke ii. 

10 . 

Why is the Gospel peculiarly adapted to the 
poor ? 

Had much pains been taken before this time to 
instruct the poor ? 

Did Jesus take as much pains to instruct the 
poor as the rich ? 

Ought not other teachers to follow his example 
in this respect ? 

What term is used instead of poor, in Is. lxi. 1 ? 

Jesus was commissioned to heal the broken heart¬ 
ed; who are meant by the broken-hearted ? Is. 
lxvi. 2. 

What is said of a broken and contrite heart in 
Ps. li. 17 ? 

How does the gospel heal the broken-hearted ? 

To whom was Jesus to proclaim deliverance ? 

What is the meaning of captives ? 

Is not the spirit of Christianity opposed to all 
slavery, whether of the mind or the body ? 
2 Cor. iii. 17. 

What is it that reduces the mind to slavery ? 

How does Christianity deliver men from the 
slavery of sin ? 

How does it promote civil and religious freedom? 

When may a person be said to be truly free ? 
John viii. 36. 

Does true liberty consist in a freedom from all 
restraint? Gal. v. 13. 

What reasons are there for believing that the 
influence of Christianity will finally abolish 


Lesson I. — Luke iv. 18, 19. 


3 


all slavery and restore all men to their natu¬ 
ral rights ? 

Jesus was commissioned to restore sight to the 
blind•• can you mention any instances in 
which he made the blind to see ? 

What other blindness is there besides that occa¬ 
sioned by the loss of the eyes ? 

Does the gospel give sight to the spiritually 
blind ? 

To whom is the promise given that they shall 
see God ? Matt. v. 8. 

What assurance is given to him who does the 
will of God, in John vii. 17 ? 

Can you tell me now how the gospel gives sight 
to the spiritually blind ? 

Jesus was commissioned to set at liberty them that 
are bruised; who are meant by them that are 
bruised ? 

What is the corresponding passage in Is. Ixi. 1 ? 

Do not the chains of sin bruise him who wears 
them ? 

What relief does the gospel bring to the humble 
and contrite sinner ? Matt. xi. 28-30. Rom. 
viii. 1. 

Jesus was commissioned to preach or to announce 
the acceptable year of the Lord; to what year 
is allusion probably made ? Lev. xxv. 10. 

What was the acceptable year of the Lord 
which Jesus came to announce ? 

Why may the spiritual dominion of Christ be 
represented as a Jubilee , or as the acceptable 
year of the Lord ? 


4 Lesson II. — John iii. 1-21. 

Why was the year of Jubilee an occasion of 
joy to the Jews ? Lev. xxv. 8-13. 


LESSON II. 

Christ’s Conversation with Nicodemus. 

PART i. 

John iii. 1-10. 

1, 2. Who came to Jesus by night to converse with 
him ? 

Who was Nicodemus ? 

What office is it probable that he sustained ? 

Why is it probable that he was one of the San¬ 
hedrim ? John vii. 50-52. 

Why did he come to Jesus by night rather than 
during the day ? 

In what terms did he address Jesus? 

What is the meaning of Rabbi ? 

Why did he conclude that Jesus was a teach¬ 
er come from God ? 

Was his conclusion a just one ? 

What does Jesus say of the evidence of miracles, 
in John v. 36 ? 

It appears then that Nicodemus regarded Jesus 
as a divine teacher; ought he then to have 
been ashamed to come to him openly ? 

3. How did Jesus answer Nicodemus? 

What is here meant by the kingdom of God ? 

What is it to see the kingdom of God? 



Lesson II . — John iii. 1-21. 5 

What is it to be born again ? 

Why cannot a person that has not been born 
again see the kingdom of God ? 1 Cor. ii. 14. 

4. Does it appear from the reply of Nicodemus that 

he understood the language of Jesus ? 

5. How does Jesus explain himself more fully P 

What is it to be born of water ? 

What is it to be born of the spirits 

What is the design of the ordinance of baptism ? 

Why is it necessary that you should be born of 
the spirit ? Rom. viii. 8. 

G. What is a person by natural birth ? 

What does he become by his spiritual birth, or 
by being born of the spirit ? 

What do we inherit by our natural birth ? 

To what do we become entitled by our spiritual 
birth ? Rom. viii. 17. 

Which are the most valuable, the privileges of 
the natural birth, or those of the spiritual 
birth ? 

Can the sinner do any thing toward regenerating 
himself? 

What does God command the wicked to do, in 
Ezekiel xviii. 31 ? 

Must not God give them a new heart ? Ez. 
xxxvi. 26. 

Have we any reason to hope that God will give 
us a new heart unless we ask him ? 

What promise is given in Luke xi. 13 ? 

What then can a sinner do towards regenerating 
himself? 


1* 


6 Lesson II. — John iii. 1-21. 

Can you tell me now why it is necessary that a 
person should be born again ? 

Is regeneration, or the spiritual birth, necessary 
for all men ? 

7. Does it appear that Nicodemus thought it neces¬ 

sary for all ? 

What is it to marvel ? 

What was it that seemed marvellous to Nicode¬ 
mus ? 

8. How does Jesus illustrate the nature of that spir¬ 

itual influence which regenerates the soul ? 
What is the meaning oflisteth ? 

In what respects is spiritual influence like the 
wind ? 

How can a person know that he is regenerated ? 
How can you know that the wind blows ? 

What rule has the Apostle Paul laid down for 
determining whether a person be regenerate 
or not, in Rom. viii. 5 ? 

What is our Saviour’s rule ? Matt. vii. 20. 
What are the works of the flesh? Gal. v. 19-21. 
What is the fruit of the spirit ? Gal. v. 22-24. 
Can that person be born of God who leads a 
wicked life ? 1 John iii. 9. 

Why did the Apostle Paul conclude that the 
Corinthians were carnal and not spiritual ? 
1 Cor. iii. 3. 

9 In what terms did Nicodemus express his sur¬ 
prise at these assertions of Jesus ? 

10. What was Jesus’ reply? 

Why ought a ruler in Israel to have known 
these things ? 


Lesson II. —John iii. 1—21. 


7 


Were not the Jews accustomed to the use of 
such phrases as our Saviour employed in this 
discourse ? 

To whom did they give the title of new creatures 
or new-horn children ? 

Is it likely that Nicodemus would have been 
surprised if Jesus had merely asserted that 
the Gentiles or the heathen must be born 
again ? 

What was it then, in the doctrine that Jesus 
taught, which he found it difficult to believe ? 


Christ's Conversation with Nicodemus, continued. 

PART II. 

John iii. 11-21. 

11. In what terms does Jesus declare the certainty 

of his knowledge on the subject of regenera¬ 
tion ? 

What is the meaning of testify ? 

From whom did he derive the knowledge he 
possessed on this and other subjects ? John 
xii. 49, 50. 

What does John the Baptist say of Christ’s in¬ 
structions, in the 34th verse of this chapter ? 

12. In what language does Jesus intimate that he 

should teach doctrines more surprising than 
what he had now taught ? 

What is meant by earthly , and what by heavenly 
things ? 


8 Lesson II. — John iii. 1-21. 

13. Who alone, does Jesus say, hath ascended up to 

heaven ? Who is meant by the son of man ? 
Had Jesus at that time literally ascended into 
heaven ? John xx. 17. 

Was he at that time 'personally in heaven ? 

What then is probably meant by these words ? 
What did John the Baptist testify of Christ in 
John i. 18? 

What is it to be in the bosom of the Father ? 
Compare Luke xvi. 22, and John xiii. 23. 

14, 15. Like what does Jesus say that the Son of 

man must be lifted up ? 

What account can you give of the event to which 
Jesus refers ? Numbers xxi. 6-9. 

How was the Son of man lifted up ? Compare 
John xii. 32, 33. 

What did he say would be the effect of believ¬ 
ing in him ? 

What is it to perish ? 

What will be the punishment of those who know 
not God, and who obey not the gospel of our 
Lord Jesus Christ ? 2 Thes. i. 8, 9. 

16. How great was the love of God for the world ? 
Who are meant by the world ? 

Why was Jesus called his only begotten Son ? 
How is an only son commonly regarded by his 
parents ? 

How was Jesus Christ regarded by God ? John 
v. 20. 

What is said of the love of God in 1 John iv. 
9,10? 


Lesson II. — John iii. 1-21. 9 

17. Why did God send his Son into the world ? 

18. Who will escape and who will receive condemna¬ 

tion ? 

19. What is the ground of condemnation to him 

who refuses to believe in Christ? 

What light is here meant? 

What is it to love darkness rather than lights 

20. What is said of him that doeth evil? 

Why does a wicked man seek to avoid the light? 
What is the meaning of reproved ? 

What is said of the works of darkness , in Eph. 
v. 11 ? 

Why is Jesus Christ and his Gospel, called the 
light ? Compare John ix. 5, and Eph. v. 13, 14. 
Who is said to walk in darkness , in 1 John ii. 11 ? 

21. What is said of him who doeth truth ? 

What is it to do the truth ? See 1 John i. 6. 
What does the Apostle John say of those who 

walk in the truth , in the 5th verse of his third 
Epistle ? 

Why is the good man willing that his deeds 
should be made manifest ? 

What is the meaning of wrought in God? 1 Cor. 
x. 31. 

Who is said to abide in the light, in 1 John ii. 10. 
Was there any thing in the manner of Nicode- 
mus coming to Jesus which probably suggest¬ 
ed the figures of light and darkness which 
are here employed ? 

In what way did Nicodemus show his respect 
and affection for Jesus after his crucifixion ? 
John xix. 39-42. 


10 


LESSON III. 

Christ's Instructions to the Twelve Apostles. 

PART i. 

Matt. x. 5-27. 

5, 6. To whom did Jesus direct the twelve Apostles 
to go ? 

Who are meant by the Gentiles ? 

Who were the Samaritans ? 

Was not the Gospel designed for the benefit of 
all nations ? 

Why then did Jesus direct the Apostles to go 
only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel ? 
What did Jesu3 say to a woman of Canaan, in 
Matt. xv. 24 ? 

Did he not however heal her daughter? xv. 28. 
What did Paul and Barnabas say to the Jews 
who refused to receive the gospel ? Acts 
xiii. 46, 47. 

7. What were the Aspostles to preach or to pro¬ 

claim ? 

What is here meant by the kingdom of heaven ? 

8. What miracles were they commissioned to per¬ 

form ? 

What had they received freely , and what were 
they to give freely ? 

What is the meaning of freely ? 

9. 10. What were they not to provide ? 


Lesson III. — Matt. x. 5-42. 11 

Of what three substances were the Jewish coins 
made ? 

What is the meaning of scrip ? 

Why were they not to provide these things ? 

11. What were they to do on entering into a city or 

town? 

What is the meaning of worthy ? 

Why were they to abide in the same house, and 
not go from house to house ? 

12. On coming into a house, what were they to do ? 
Were they to salute the house , or the family 

that lived in it? 

What was the Jewish salutation ? Luke x. 5. 
What is comprehended in this term, peace ? 

13. If the house or family were worthy, what would 

come upon it ? 

If it were not worthy what would happen ?• 

14. What were they to do in case they should not 

meet with a favorable reception ? 

What is meant by the symbolical action of 
shaking the dust from the feet ? 

What is said of Paul and Barnabas, in Acts 
xiii. 51 ? 

15. In what terms does Jesus intimate the guilt of 

those who wilfully reject the gospel.? 

Why would they be more guilty than the inhabi¬ 
tants of Sodom and Gomorrah ? 

What account can you give of the destruction of 
those cities? 

16. By what comparison does Jesus intimate the 

danger to which his Apostles would be ex¬ 
posed ? 


12 


Lesson III. — Matt. x. 5-42. 


What is the condition of sheep in the midst of 
wolves ? 

Who are meant by the sheep and who by the 
wolves ? 

What caution does he give them respecting their 
conduct ? 

What is there remarkable in the serpent with 
regard to avoiding danger ? 

What is said of the nature of the serpent, in 
Gen. iii. 1. 

What quality of the serpent were the Apostles 
to imitate ? 

Of what is the dove said to be the symbol ? 

What quality of the dove were they to imitate ? 

17, 18. Why were the Apostles to beware of men ? 

Were not the enemies to whom they were ex¬ 
posed more savage than wild beasts ? 

Can you recollect any instances in which either 
Jesus or his Apostles were exposed to the 
dangers here mentioned ? 

What is meant by councils and synagogues ? 

How would their being brought before governors 
and kings be for a testimony to them and to 
the gentiles? 

Would not the testimony which they bore to 
the truth of Christianity under such circum¬ 
stances be a strong recommendation in its 
favor ? 

19. When their enemies should deliver them up for 
trial, for what were they not to be anxious ? 

Why were they not to be anxious ? 


Lesson III. — Matt. x. 5-42. 


13 


20. From whom would they derive assistance? 

21. What other unnatural cruelties would they suf¬ 

fer ? 

22. On what account would the Apostles be haled of 

all men ? 

What is meant by my name's sake ? 

What is said of him that endurelh to the end ? 

23. What were they to do, when persecuted in one 

city ? 

Can you mention any instances in which the 
Apostles were obliged to flee from one city to 
another? Acts xiii. 50 and xiv. 5. 

What did Jesus say would happen before they 
should have gone over all the cities of Israel? 
What is meant by the cities of Israel ? 

To whom and under what circumstances was 
the name Israel given ? 

Does the coming of the Son of man mean Christ’s 
coming to the destruction of Jerusalem by 
the Romans, or his coming to judge the world ? 
When was Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans? 

24. 25. Why ought not the Apostles to expect better 

treatment than their Master received ? 

Who was their Master ? 

On what occasion had the Jews ascribed the 
miracles of Jesus to Beelzebub ? Matt. ix. 
34, and xii. 24. 

26, 27. What did Jesus say to encourage the Apos¬ 
tles to speak openly and without fear ? 

What do the terms “ Master of the house ” and 
“ they of his household ” imply ? 

2 


14 


Lesson III. — Matt. x. 5-42. 


What use was made of the house-tops by the 
Jews ? 

Of what form were the roofs of their houses ? 


Christ’s Instructions to the Twelve Apostles , con¬ 
tinued. 

PART II. 

Matt. x. 28-42. 

28. Why should you be more afraid of offending' 
God than man ? 

To whom and for what purpose were these words 
originally spoken ? 

Are there not some persons who appear to stand 
more in fear of man than of God. * 

What is said of the fear of man, in Prov. xxix. 25 ? 

What is said of the fear of the Lord, in Ps. cxi, 
10 ? 

29-31. What did Jesus say to encourage the Apos¬ 
tles to put their trust in God ? 

What may we learn from the assurance, that 
not a sparrow falls on the ground ivithout God; 
and that the very hairs of our head are all 
numbered ? 

What was the value of the Jewish coin here 
called a farthing ? 

In what respects are men superior to other ani¬ 
mals ? 

32,33. What is here said to show the necessity of 
confessing Christ before men ? 


Lesson III. — Matt. x. 5-42. 


15 


What, is it to confess Christ before men ? 

You would not deny Christ; but may you not in 
some circumstances be unwilling to confess 
him ? 

What are those circumstances ? 

What is it to deny him before men ? 

Is it sufficient for us neither to deny nor confess 
him ? 

34-36. Tn what terras does Jesus describe the effects 
which his religion would have in the world ? 

Was it the design of the gospel to produce these 
melancholy effects ? 

Does the gospel tend to division and strife ? 

Would there be wars and contentions if all men 
obeyed the precepts of Jesus ? 

Whence come wars and fightings ? James iv. 1. 

What is said of the wisdom that is from above ? 
James iii. 17. 

Is it then true religion or the want of it , that pro¬ 
duces divisions in families, or in larger com¬ 
munities ? 

What is said of him, who, under the pretence of 
religion, hateth his brother ? 1 John iv. 20. 

What was the song of the angels when they 
announced the birth of Christ ? Luke ii. 14. 

What was the new commandment which Jesus 
gave to his disciples ? John xiii. 34. 

In what terms are the peaceable effects of 
Christianity described in Isaiah ii. 4 ? 

Is it not very unbecoming as well as sinful for 
children, under the pretence of religion, to be 
guilty of undutiful conduct to their parents ? 


16 Lesson III. — Matt. x. 5-42. 

If they are truly religious how will they bear 
opposition and insult from others ? 

37. Is it your duty to love father, or mother, or any 

other friend, more than Christ ? 

In what terms does Jesus, assert the superiority 
of his claims over those of the nearest 
earthly relations, in Luke xiv. 26 ? 

Does this passage mean that we must absolutely 
hate father and mother &c., or only that we 
ought not to suffer the claims of kindred or 
the ties of affection to interfere with our re¬ 
ligious duties ? 

38. What else must you do to be a worthy disciple 

of Christ? 

What is it to take up the cross ? 

39. What is said of him that Jindeth his life , that is, 

saves himself by apostasy ? What is aposta¬ 
sy ? 

What of him that loseth his life for the sake of 
Christ ? 

What do you understand by this declaration ? 
40-42. How will respect and kindness shown to the 
Apostles, or to any prophet or righteous man, 
on account of their divine claims or their 
moral excellence, be interpreted and re¬ 
warded ? 

Who are meant by these little ones ? 

Why were the disciples of Jesus spoken of in 
these terms ? 

What do you understand by giving a cup of cold 
water to one of these little ones ? 


Lesson IV. — Matt . v. 1-12. 


17 


What is meant by doing this in the name of a 
disciple ? 

May we not learn from this declaration, that it is 
the motive with which the act is done, which 
renders it acceptable to God ? 

In what terms is this sentiment conveyed in 
1 Sam xvi. 7 ? 


LESSON IV. 

The Beatitudes. 

Matt. v. 1-12. 

1, 2. Who were present when Jesus delivered the 
instructions contained in this and the two 
following chapters ? 

Why is the first part of this chapter called the 
Beatitudes ? 

3. What is the first beatitude ? 

What is the meaning of blessed ? 

What is it to be poor in spirit ? 

Is being poor in spirit, or humble in mind, the 
the same as being depressed or gloomy? 

Are not proud people more likely to be discon¬ 
tented and gloomy than humble-minded peo¬ 
ple ? 

Can rich persons be poor in spirit ? How ? 

Is it more difficult for the rich than for the poor 
to be humble-minded ? Why ? 

Were the disciples of Jesus poor or rich ? 

2 * 



18 


Lesson IV. — Matt. v. 1-12. 


Can you mention some of the reasons why you 
should be humble-minded ? 

4. What is the second beatitude ? 

Does this mean that all who mourn will be made 
happy ? 

Do not some persons’ who are in trouble refuse 
to be comforted ? 

What must you do when you are in trouble in 
order that you may receive consolation ? 
Matt. xi. 28-30. 

Will it be of any use for a person to mourn, i. e. 
to be sorry for his faults, unless he correct 
them ? 

5. What is said of the meek ? 

What is it to he meek ? 

How will a meek man behave himself under 
provocation ? 

How did Jesus bear the injuries he received? 
1 Pet. ii. 23. 

Was Jesus meek ? 

How may the meek man be said to inherit the 
earth ? 

Will he not be more likely to pass through life 
peaceably and pleasantly, than the man of a 
hasty and passionate temper ? 

What then are the rewards of meekness? 

What is said of the meek , in Ps. xxxvii. 11 ? 

6. What is the next beatitude ? 

What is it to hunger and thirst after righteous¬ 
ness ? 

Does not a person, who is hungry and thirsty, 
desire, and try to obtain, food and drink ? 


Lesson IV. — Matt v. 1-12. 19 

What then will a person do who hungers and 
thirsts after righteousness ? 

What is meant by righteousness ? 

If you sincerely desire and strive to be good, 
what will be the result ? \ 

May not every person become good who will 
take pains ? 

What is the reason then that all are not good ? 

Are there not some persons who would like to 
be good, if they could become so without 
taking pains ? 

What assistance in your endeavours to be good 
may you expect to receive, if you desire and 
ask it? Luke xi. 13. 

7. What is said of the merciful? 

What is it to be merciful ? 

To whom is it our duty to be merciful ? 

Should we bestow our compassion on those 
persons who do not deserve it? 

Is God merciful to us ? Do we deserve his 
mercy ? 

Should we strive to be like God ? Luke vi. 36. 

Can we hope to find mercy, if we are not merci¬ 
ful ? James ii. 13. 

8. What is promised to the pure in heart ? 

What is it to be pure in heart ? 

Is it wrong to indulge bad thoughts and feel¬ 
ings ? 

Why is it wrong ? 

What harm is there in doing thus? 

If you drive them from you whenever they come 
into your mind, will they injure you ? 


20 


Lesson IV. — Matt. v. 1-12. 

If you are pleased to have them remain, and 
take no pains to exclude them, what is the 
state of your heart ? 

Jesus says that the pure in heart shall see God : 
does this mean that they will see him with 
the outward eye ? 

Why cannot God be seen with the outward eye ? 
John iv. 24. 

In what way can he be seen ? 

Why are the pure in heart more likely to under¬ 
stand the character of God than others? 

0. What is said of peace-makers ? 

What is a peace-maker ? 

What will be the conduct of a peace-maker, if 
he lives among quarrelsome neighbours? 

How will it affect him to see men engaged in 
angry disputes and bitter contentions ? 

How will he feel, if he have been instrumental 
in bringing about a reconciliation ? 

How will he be regarded by God ? 

10. What is the next beatitude ? 

What is it to be persecuted ? 

What is it to be persecuted for righteousness- 
sake^ 

Are good men ever persecuted ? 

Are they ever persecuted for being good ? 

Which is better, to suffer for doing right, or for 
doing wrong ? 1 Peter iii. 17. 

11, 12. What is the ninth and last beatitude ? 

What is it to revile ? 

Under what circumstances may a person rejoice 
to be spoken evil of? 


Lesson V. — Matt. v. 13-26. 


21 


Why may he then rejoice ? 1 Peter iv. 13. 
What sufferings should we endeavour to avoid ? 
1 Peter iv. 15. 


LESSON V. 

Matt. v. 13-26. 

13. To what does Jesus liken his disciples ? 

For what purpose is salt used ? 

What would become of the world, if there were 
no good people in it ? 

For whose sake would God have spared Sodom? 
Gen. xviii. 23-32. 

In what respects then are good Christians like 
salt ? 

What is the meaning of savour ? 

What sort of persons are like salt that has lost 
its savour ? 

14. To what else are Christians compared ? 

What is the use of light ? 

What would be the state of the world if there 
were no light in it? 

In what respects are good persons like light ? 

What sort of persons are like a city set on a hill ? 

15. 16. Why do men light a candle or a lamp ? 

How should Christians let their light shine ? 

What is the meaning of this precept? 

Hoes it mean that you ought to do good in order 
that you may be seen of men ? 



22 


Lesson V. — Matt. v. 13-26. 


Why is it desirable that the good deeds of men 
should be known ? 

"What is it to glorify your heavenly Father ? 

17. For what purpose did Jesus come ? 

What is meant by the laic and the prophets ? 
What part of the Bible existed at this time ? 
Which part of the Old Testament was called the 
law , and which the prophets ? 

18. How long did Jesus say that the law shpuld re¬ 

main in force ? 

What is meant by one jot or one tittle ? 

19. Who will be called least in the kingdom of heaven ? 
Who will be called great inthe kingdom vf heaven ? 
What is it to be called least , and to be called great ? 
May a person who wilfully breaks any of the 

least of God’s commands, hope to be received 
into heaven without repentance ? 

What then is meant by the declaration, that 
such a person shall be called least in the king- 
' dom of heaven ? 

20. What does Jesus say of those who are no better 

than the Scribes and Pharisees ? 

Who were the Scribes ? 

Who were the Pharisees ? 

What was the general character of the Scribes 
and Pharisees? 

Did they pretend to be very good ? 

Were they so in reality ? 

Can you mention some particulars of their hy¬ 
pocrisy, as related in the 23d chapter of 
Matthew ? 


Lesson V. — Matt. v. 13-26. 


23 


Will such persons be admitted into heaven ? 

21. Who has commanded us not to kill; that is, to 

do no murder ? Which of the ten command¬ 
ments forbids murder ? 

What did the Jewish teachers say that the mur¬ 
derer would be in danger of? 

Did they mean that he would be exposed to 
punishment in this world, or in that which is 
to come ? 

Did they think that a person would be punished 
for harbouring malicious thoughts and using 
bad language, provided he did not take away 
life ? 

22. What does Jesus say on this subject? 

Who is meant by brother in this place ? 

Is anger always sinful ? 

When is it not sinful ? or what is a just cause 
for anger ? 

Is it ever proper to retain anger ? Eph. iv. 26. 

What does the Apostle John say of one who 
hateth his brother ? 1 John iii. 15. 

Unjust anger will expose a person to the judg¬ 
ment; what is meant by the judgment? 

Who will be in danger of the council? 

What is the meaning of Raca ? 

What is it to be in danger of the council ? 

Who will be exposed to the punishment denoted 
by hell-fire ? 

What is meant here by the term fool ? 

It appears then that three degrees of punishment 
are spoken of, corresponding to three degrees 


24 


Lesson V. — Matt. v. 13-26. 


of guilt. Are we to understand our Lord as 
referring to human punishment or to Divine ? 

Can you tell me now in what way a person may 
break the sixth commandment? 

23, 24. What does Jesus direct us to do, if, when 
we bring our gift to the altar, we remember 
that our brother has just cause of complaint 
against us ? 

What is meant by bringing a gift to the altar? 
Luke ii. 24. 

What is the meaning of reconciled? 

Can a person of a malicious and quarrelsome 
temper hope to be accepted in his religious 
services ? 

What lesson may we learn from these two ver¬ 
ses ? Micah vi. 7, 8. 

25, 26. Why should you as quickly as possible make 
satisfaction to the person you have injured, or 
made your adversary ? 

Why should you endeavour to be reconciled to 
God, when you have become his enemy by 
wicked works? 

Is God displeased with those who disobey him ? 
Ps. vii. 11. 

How can the sinner become reconciled to God ? 

Can any one be truly happy without the favor of 
God? 

What must you do to secure his favor ? 


25 


LESSON VI. 

On Impurity , Profaneness , and Falsehood. 

Matt. v. 27-37. 

27, 28. What is the seventh commandment ? 

Does Jesus teach that it is sinful to cherish 
impure thoughts and desires ? 

29, 30. If your right eye, or your right hand, or any 
thing which you value as much as you do 
those members, should cause you to offend , 
that is, should ensnare you or lead you into 
sin, what must you do? 

Does this mean that you must literally tear out 
your right eye, and cut off your right hand ? 

What then does our Lord mean by this precept? 

Is it right then to frequent those places and 
scenes, which you have found from experience 
to be snares to your souls ? 

Why is it better to renounce than to partake of 
unlawful pleasures ? 

What are unlawful pleasures ? 

Which persons are more likely to be happy, 
those who practise self-denial, or those who 
follow their inclinations in every thing ? 

What is self-denial ? 

33. What is the third commandment? 

How did the Jews understand this command¬ 
ment ? 

What is it to forswear one's self% 

3 


26 


Lesson VI. — Matt. v. 27-37. 


What is an oath ? 

34-36. How does our Lord explain this command P 

Is ail profaneness then sinful ? 

37. What should our communication be P 

What does this mean ? 

Will a person be more likely to obtain credit for 
what he says, by using profane language ? 

What are the advantages of profane cursing and 
swearing ? 

What does the Apostle James teach us on this 
subject? James v. 12. 

Are profane cursing and swearing forbidden by 
the laws of this state ? 

When a person is called to give in his testimony 
in court, he must do it under oath: can you 
tell me what this means P 

What is the form of the oath which he takes ? 

Does this require him to tell all that he knows 
of the subject about which he testifies ? 

What is the meaning of So help me God ? 

If he give in false testimony does he not in effect 
imprecate the curse of God upon himself? 

Can such a person hope to prosper ? What is 
written in Ps. cxxvii. 1, 2? 

Is not perjury, or false swearing, an evidence of 
great depravity ? 

Should not a person be exceedingly careful what 
he says when under oath ? 

How does perjury differ from common falsehood ? 

Is all falsehood sinful ? 

What is said on this subject in Eph. iv. 25? 


Lesson VII. — Matt. v. 38-48. 27 

What are the evils of a habit of lying and de¬ 
ceit? 

Is it right to tell what is Hot true in order to 
spare the feelings of another ? 

Is flattery a species of lying ? 

If you have promised to do a thing, is it right 
for you to neglect to do it under the pretence 
that you have changed your mind ? 

What does Solomon say of lying lips , in Prov. 
xii. 22 ? 

What is the meaning of abomination ? 


LESSON VII. 

Our duty to those who have injured us. 

Matt. v. 38-48. 

38. What is the law of retaliation contained in the 

religion of the Jews ? Ijfeut. xix. 21. 

What is the meaning of retaliation ? 

39. What does Jesus teach on this subject ? 

What is the meaning of Resist not evil ? 

What do you understand by this precept ? 

Is forbearance under provocation a mark of 
meanness or of a great mind ? 

Will forbearance or retaliation be more likely 
to humble our adversary ? 

Which is the most natural and common ? 

Which is reccommended by the example of ouy 
Lord ? 



28 Lesson VII. — Matt. v. 38-48. 

Can you mention any instances of his forbear¬ 
ance ? 

40, 41. What other directions does Jesus give re¬ 
lating to this subject ? 

Do you suppose that Jesus intended in these 
directions to be understood literally ? 

What do you suppose that he did mean ? 

What is the spirit inculcated in this passage ? 
What does the Apostle Paul teach us on this 
subject ? Rom. xii. 18-21. 

42. What directions does Jesus give respecting giv¬ 

ing and lending? 

Does this mean that we ought to give and lend 
to every person that asks us ? 

What is the spirit inculcated by this precept ? 
With what disposition of mind must we give, in 
order that we may be accepted ? 2 Cor. ix. 7. 
What is said in Ps. xxxvii. 25, 26, of the right¬ 
eous and merciful man ? 

What is recorded in Acts xx. 35, as one of the 
sayings of our Lord ? 

43. W T hat precept had been received among the 

Jews relating to a neighbour and to an enemy? 
Who was considered a neighbour by the Jews ? 
Did God command the Jews to hate their ene¬ 
mies ? 

Did the Jews think they were at liberty to hate 
them ? 

44. What precept does Jesus give on this subject ? 
What was his treatment of his enemies ? 

45. Why should we be kind to our enemies ? 


Lesson VII. — Matt. v. 38-48. 29 


How does God treat those who are enemies to him ? 

What is it to be children of God ? Rom. viii. 14. 

What will be our reward, if we are the true 
children of God ? Rom. viii. 17. 

Is it necessary, in order to be like God, that we 
regard our friends and enemies alike ? 

Does God love wicked men in the same sense 
that he loves the pure and the good ? 

In what sense does he love the wicked ? Ezek. 
xxxiii. 11. 

What has he done to save them ? John iii. 16. 

In what sense does he love those who endeavor 
to please him ? 

46, 47. Will it be sufficient for us to love those who 
love us, and to salute our brethren only ? 

Who, does Jesus say, are ready to do so much as 
this ? 

Who were the publicans ? 

Does it require any self-denial to love our friends 
and to use them well ? 

Is it any evidence of a man’s goodness that he 
is kind and obliging to his particular friends, 
while he is harsh and oppressive towards 
others ? 

48. Whom does Jesus propose as a perfect pattern 
for the imitation of his disciples ? 

Can man be perfect as God is perfect ? 

Why should we aim at perfection, if we can 
never hope to reach it ? 

What benevolent wish does the Apostle Paul 
express in behalf of the Corinthian Chris-, 
tians P 2 Cor. xiii. 9. 

3* 


30 Lesson VIII. — Matt. vi. 1-10. 


Are any so good that they cannot become better ? 
What does Paul say of himself in Phil. iii. 13,14 ? 


LESSON VIII. 

On Alms-giving and Prayer. 

Matt. vi. 1-10. 

1. What fault must you guard against in doing 

alms, or in performing any good deed ? 

What is ostentation ? 

What is doing alms ? 

Why must we avoid ostentation ? 

2. What was done by the hypocrites of whom Jesus 

speaks ? 

What is a hypocrite ? 

What is meant by sounding a trumpet before 
them ? 

Why did they wish their good deeds to be 
known ? 

Are good deeds, performed from a desire to gain 
human applause, well-pleasing to God ? 

What reward then will such deeds obtain ? 

3. How are you directed to do alms ? 

What is the meaning of this precept ? 

4. What encouragement have you for doing good 

in secret? 

5. What must you avoid when you pray ? 

How did the hypocrites love to pray ? 

What is it to pray ? 



Lesson VIII. — Matt. vi. 1-10. 31 

Is it sufficient to repeat a form of words, without 
thinking at the time what they mean ? 

What more is required in order to render prayer 
an acceptable service to God ? John iv. 24. 

6. What does Jesus direct you to do, when you pray? 
Why should you enter into your closet, or some 

retired place, when you pray? 

Does this precept of Jesus require us always to 
enter into our closet when we pray ? 

On what occasion do Christians meet together 
to pray ? 

What instances are mentioned of the early 
Christians joining in social prayer ? Acts i. 14. 
and xii. 12. 

Did Jesus pray with and for his disciples ? John 
xvii. 

Did he not also pray in private ? Mark i. 35. 

To whom did Jesus direct his disciples to pray ? 
To whom did he himself pray ? 

7. What error of the heathen should you avoid 

when you pray ? 

Why did the heathen use vain repetitions ? 

Who are the heathen ? 

What are vain repetitions ? 

What example of a heathen prayer is given in 
1 Kings xviii. 26, 28. 

8. Why should you avoid vain repetitions in 

prayer ? 

Why is it necessary to pray at all, if God knows 
what you want before you ask him ? 


32 Lesson VIII. — Matt. vi. 1-10. 

9-13. Can you repeat the Lord’s Prayer? 

Why is this called the Lord’s Prayer ? 

9. To whom is this prayer addressed ? 

Why is God called Oar Father ? 

Is he the Father of all men ? Acts xvii. 26. 

Is he good to all ? Ps. cxlv. 9 

What is said of his compassion in Ps. ciii. 13 ? 

Where does God dwell ? 

What is heaven ? 

Is not God present in all places ? Ps. cxxxix, 
7-10. 

Why then is he said to be in heaven ? 

What is the meaning of hallowed ? 

If you offer this prayer in sincerity, can you use 
the name of God with levity and irreverence ? 

10. What is here meant by the kingdom or the reign 

of God? 

Jn what does the kingdom of God consist? 
Rom. xiv. 17. 

What is meant by this petition; Thy kingdom 
come ? 

Had the kingdom of God commenced when 
Jesus taught this prayer? 

When did it commence ? Acts ii. 

In what manner does the kingdom of God come ? 
Luke xvii. 20. 

Where is the seat of this kingdom ? Luke xvii. 

21 . 

What will be the condition of the world when 
this kingdom shall have fully come? Is. 
xi. 10. 


Lesson VIII. — Matt. vi. 1-10. 


33 


Whom has God appointed to administer this 
kingdom on the earth ? Luke xxii. 29, 30. 

How long will this mediatorial kingdom last ? 
1 Cor. xv. 25. 

To whom will Jesus Christ deliver up his king¬ 
dom at last ? 1 Cor. xv. 24. 

What is said, in Daniel ii. 44, of the duration of 
the kingdom which God promised to estab¬ 
lish ? 

May we not then conclude that the reign of 
goodness and of happiness will last for ever ? 

Can you tell me now what it is you pray for 
when you offer this petition; Thy kingdom 
come ? 

Are you required to seek this kingdom in prefer¬ 
ence to all things else? Luke xii. 31. 

What can you do to advance this kingdom ? 

What is the meaning of the clause, Thy will be 
done ? 

Why should you desire and pray that God’s will 
may be done ? 

In what manner should the will of God be done 
on earth ? 

How is it done in heaven ? 

What prayer did Jesus offer to God in the gar¬ 
den of Gethsemane ? Matt. xxvi. 42. 

WhWt do we learn from this prayer of Jesus in 
regard to our duty ? 

With what spirit did Jesus do the will of God ? 
John iv. 34. 

If you take Jesus for your pattern how shall you 
bear affliction ? 


LESSON IX. 


The Lord's Prayer , continued. 

Matt. vi. 11-15. 

11. What should you ask God to give you every 

day ? 

What is meant by daily bread ? 

Is it proper to pray for food and other necessa¬ 
ries of life, while we do nothing to obtain 
them ? 

If God does not give them to us without our 
labor, why should we pray for them P 
Can you tell me now how all our food and cloth¬ 
ing comes from God ? [Let this be illus¬ 
trated by examples, taken from different arti¬ 
cles of food and clothing.] 

Can you repeat Agur’s prayer ? Prov. xxx. 7-9. 
What are the peculiar temptations of poverty ? 
What are the peculiar temptations of riches ? 
What is said in 1 Tim. vi. 9, of those who re¬ 
solve to be rich ? 

What is said in the next verse of the love of 
money ? 

What lesson had the Apostle Paul learned ? 
Phil. iv. 11* 

12. With what spirit should you ask God to forgive 

you your debts, or sins, against him ? 

What is meant by debts and debtors ? 


Lesson IK.—Matt, vi. 11-15. 35 


14, 15. Can you hope that God will forgive you, if 
you cherish an unforgiving spirit towards 
others ? 

If you cherish such a spirit, fot what in fact do 
you pray when you ask God to forgive you, 
as you forgive others ? 

Should you be willing that God should prove as 
unforgiving towards you, as you have been 
towards others ? 

What must you do to obtain the forgiveness of 
your sins ? Is. lv. 6, 7 ; Acts xx. 21. 

Is God as ready to forgive the sins of men, as a 
faithful parent is to forgive the offences of a 
beloved child ? Luke xv. 

What is it to sin against God ? 

Have you any reason to think that God will for¬ 
give those who do not truly repent ? 

What is it truly to repeat ? 

13. What are we taught to pray respecting tempta¬ 
tion ? 

What is temptation ? 

Does God ever tempt men to sin ? James i. 13. 

How is a man tempted P James i. 14. 

May not a person be tempted without com¬ 
mitting sin ? Heb. iv. 15. 

May not temptations prove to be the occasions 
of good ? 

When are temptations injurious to a person ? 

When are they beneficial ? 

Why should you pray not to be led into tempta¬ 
tion, or placed in trying circumstances ? 


36 


Lesson I X* — 3Iatt. vi. 11-15. 


What encouraging promise is given in 1 Cor. x. 
13, to such as are exposed to temptations ? 

What advice does Solomon give liis son in Pro¬ 
verbs i. 10-19 ? 

From what should you pray to be delivered or 
preserved ? 

What is it to be delivered from evil ? 

May you expect that God will preserve you 
from evil if you expose yourself to danger 
without a just cause ? 

What is the ascription in the last clause of the 
Lord’s prayer ? 

What kingdom belongs to God ? 

What power belongs to God ? 

Why should all the glory be ascribed to God ? 
1 Chron. xxix. 11, 12. 

How long will the kingdom and the power and 
the glory belong to God ? 

What is the meaning of Amen? 

By whom was this word pronounced in the pray¬ 
ers of the Jews? 1 Chron. xvi. 36. 

When you pray, must you, always use the very 
words which Jesus taught his disciples, or 
may you use your own words? 

What must you believe when you come to God 
in prayer? Heb. xi. 6. 

How must you feel when engaged in prayer? 
James iv. 3. 

What will hinder the success of prayer? Ps. 
lxvi. 18. 

What will render a prayer acceptable to God ? 
James v. 16. 


Lesson X. — Matt . vi. 16-24. 


37 


What encouragement does Jesus give to those 
who ask and seek and knock , that is, are sin¬ 
cere in a desire and endeavour to obtain the 
favor of God ? Math. vii. 7-11. 


LESSON X. 

Matt. vi. 16-24. 

16. What caution does Jesus give concerning/a$£- 

ing ? 

What is it to fast? 

Why did the hypocrites disfigure their faces 
when they fasted ? > 

Is there any goodness in a sad countenance and 
in the outward signs of grief? Isaiah Iviii. 5. 

17. How does Jesus direct his disciples to fast? 
What is the meaning of this direction? 

What was a common use of oil among the Jews ? 
What kind of oil was used for anointing the head ? 
Deut. xxviii. 40. 

18. Why should you avoid the error of the hypo¬ 

crites ? 

Will the mere abstaining from food on days of 
fasting be acceptable to God ? 

What kind of a fast will be acceptable to him? 
Isaiah Iviii. 6, 7. 

What is the use of days of fasting and prayer ? 
llow should such days be kept ? 

4 



38 Lesson X. — Matt. vi. 16-24. 

19-21. What instructions does Jesus give respecting 
earthly and heavenly treasures ? 

What is the meaning of treasures ? 

What is it to lay up treasures on earth ? 

What is it to lay up treasures in heaven ? 

What kind of treasures are liable to be consum¬ 
ed by the moth ? 

What is the moth ? 

What treasures are liable to injury from rust ? 
What constitute the principal treasures of the 
rich among Eastern nations ? 

Why should you not be mainly anxious to gain 
earthly treasures ? 

Why should it be your first and principal con¬ 
cern to lay up treasures in heaven ? 

In what respects do the latter surpass the for¬ 
mer ? 

On what objects should you set your affections ? 
Col. iii. 2. 

21. Where will your heart, that is, your affections , 

naturally be ? 

22, 23. What comparison does Jesus make between 

the light of the body and the light that is within 
us ? 

Why is the eye called the light of the body ? 
What is the light that is within us ? 

What is meant by the eye being single ? 

What is meant by the eye being evil ? 

Which would be the greater calamity, to have 
the light of the body or the light of the mind 
extinguished ? 


Lesson XI. — Matt . vi. 25-34. 39 

In which case should we be left in the greater 
darkness ? 

What is it that especially produces blindness of 
mind, so as to prevent men from judging cor¬ 
rectly of spiritual things ? 2 Cor. iv. 4. 

What is the best security against blindness of 
mind ? 

24. What does Jesus teach us about serving God 
and serving Mammon ? 

What is the meaning of Mammon? 

What is it to serve God? 

What is it to serve Mammon ? 

Why is it impossible to serve both at the same 
time ? 


LESSON XI. 

Matt. vi. 25-34. 

25. What caution does Jesus give against taking 
thought for the necessaries and comforts of 
life ? 

What is here meant by taking thought? 

Are we to understand these words as prohibiting 
all concern for our future support ? 

Would it be right to dismiss from the mind all 
thoughts concerning one’s means of living ? 

What is forbidden in this precept of Jesus ? 

When may we trust in Providence to provide 
for us ? 



40 Lesson XI. — Matt. vi. 25-34. 

26. What is’said of the fowls of the air ? 

How does God feed them ? 

Who provideth food for the raven ? Job. xxxviii. 
41. 

What provision has God made for birds of pas¬ 
sage ? 

What is said of the flight of the hawk and of the 
eagle in Job xxxix. 26, 27 ? 

How can they find their way through the air ? 

What is the use of different kinds of birds ? 

What evils would arise from the entire destruc¬ 
tion of the fowls of the air? 

In what respects does man surpass them and 
other animals ? 

In what respects are birds superior to man ? 

What may we learn from the care which God 
takes of inferior animals? 

What can men do to procure food more than 
other animals ? 

If God has given the ability is it not their duty 
to provide for themselves ? 2 Thess. iii. 10-12. 

While we do what we can to provide for our¬ 
selves and those who are dependent on us, 
what spirit should we endeavour to maintain ? 

Could we by all our anxiety effectually guard 
against the evils of life ? 

27. In what words does Jesus teach this sentiment? 

What is the meaning of cubit and stature ? 

28. 29. What does Jesus say about taking thought 

for raiment ? 

What is the meaning of raiment ? 




Lesson XI. — Matt. vi. 25-34. 41 

To what objects does Jesus direct the attention 
of his disciples? 

Have you ever noticed the growth of a lily, or 
any other plant, from the bulb or the seed ? 

Should you suppose from the appearance of the 
plant when it first rises out of the ground, 
that it could produce a beautiful flower ? 

From what does the plant derive its nourish¬ 
ment? 

How does the nourishment find its way to the 
leaves and the flowers ? 

29. What is the beauty of flowers said to surpass ? 

Who was Solomon ? 

For what was the dress of Eastern kings re¬ 
markable ? 

Can you give some account of the riches and 
glory of Solomon ? See 2 Chron. chap. ix. 

Which is the more delicate and beautiful, the 
finest piece of xrambric or lawn, or the leaves 
[petals] of a flower ? 

What is said of the works of the Lord, in Psalm 
civ. 24 ? 

30. What should we learn from the fact that God so 

clothes [adorns] the grass [flowers] of the 
field? 

Why is it said of the grass of the field, that it is 
cast into the oven ? 

Was fuel easily obtained in Palestine ? 

What is it to be of little faith ? 

31. 32. After what things do the Gentiles seek? 

Who are the Gentiles ? Luke xii. 30. 

4* 


42 


Lesson XI. — Matt. vi. 25-34. 


Why should we not be very anxious about these 
things ? 

33. What should be your first and chief concern ? 

What is here meant by the kingdom of God ? 

What is meant by the righteousness of God? 

What righteousness does God require of us? 

Micah vi. 5-8. 

What is it to seek the kingdom of God and his 
righteousness ? 

If you make it your chief concern to become 
qualified for the kingdom of heaven by attain¬ 
ing to true righteousness or moral excellence, 
what may you expect in regard to the neces¬ 
saries and comforts of life ? 

34. What general precept does Jesus give concern¬ 

ing worldly anxiety ? 

Why should we not allow ourselves to forbode 
evil, or to borrow trouble from the future ? 

What is meant by The morrow shall take thought 
for the things of itself? 

What by the phrase, Sufficient unto the day is 
the evil thereof? 

Does this precept forbid us to entertain any 
fears concerning the future ? 

Does it forbid us to do what we can to avoid the 
evils which are before us ? 

If your prospects should be dark and gloomy, 
what would this precept of Jesus require of 
you? 

Would it be right to pray that you might be pre¬ 
served from the evils which threaten you ? 


Lesson XII. — Matt, v ii. 1-14. 43 


With what spirit did Jesus pray that the cup 
might pass from him ? 

With what spirit did he meet his sufferings? 

What is the true foundation of religious trust in 
regard to the various evils of life ? Romans 
viii. 28. 

What encouraging assurance does Jesus give his 
disciples in Luke xii. 32 ? 

Who are meant by the little flock ? 

What kingdom is promised to them ? 

Who will be admitted into the kingdom of 
heaven ? Matt. vii. 21. 


LESSON XII. 

i 

Matt. vii. 1-14. 

1. What precept does Jesus give concerning judg¬ 

ing others ? 

What is the meaning of mete ? 

Does this precept forbid us to form an opinion 
of the character of others? 

By what rule should we judge them? v. 20. 
What then is the meaning of this precept? 

2. By what consideration does Jesus enforce this 

precept ? 

What then have those persons just cause to fear, 
who are guilty of judging others harshly and 
uncharitably ? James ii. 13. 



44 


Lesson XII. — Matt. vii t 1-14. 


Who is the only proper judge of the hearts of 
men ? 

3-5. What similitude does Jesus employ to show 
the impropriety of rash and uncharitable 
judgments ? 

In this similitude what does the mote , and what 
does the beam , stand for ? 

In following up this similitude, what does Jesus 
direct us to do P 

What is the meaning of this direction ? 

What reproof does the Apostle Paul give to him 
who judges uncharitably, in Rom. xiv. 4 ? 

What does the Apostle James say on this sub¬ 
ject, in James iv. IIP 

What is the person herercalled who is anxious to 
correct his neighbour’s faults, while he is un¬ 
concerned about his own faults which are 
greater ? 

Why is he called a hypocrite ? 

What is said in Romans ii. 1, of a person who 
judges another, when he is alike guilty ? 

7-11. What encouragement have we to be earnest 
and persevering in prayer ? 

By what similitude is this sentiment illustrated 

• in Luke xi. 5-8 ? 

What is it said, in Luke xi. 13, that our Heav¬ 
enly Father will give to them that ask him ? 

What is meant by the Holy Spirit ? 

Why are earthly parents called evil ? 

12. What is that precept of Jesus which is commonly 
called the golden rule of morality ? 

Why is it so called ? 


Lesson XII. — Matt vii. 1-14. 45 

What do you understand it to mean ? 

What is this precept said to be, or to comprise ? 

Why is it said to comprise the law and the pro¬ 
phets? 

What is meant by the law and the prophets ? 

If a person follow this rule will he not perform 
all the duties which he owes to his neigh¬ 
bour ? 

If you were in a state of poverty and distress, 
how should you wish others to treat you ? 

If your character were unjustly assailed, what 
should you wish to have done for you? 

Should you be willing that others should revile, 
or defraud, or injure you in any way ? 

Do you not wish to be treated by others with 
respect and kindness and affection ? 

What then will be your conduct, if you obey 
this precept? 

Does this precept require you to do to others 
whatever they may wish you to do? 

With what limitations then should it be under¬ 
stood ? 

Does it require you to do them all the good in 
your power? 

What is called by Jesus the second great com¬ 
mandment ? 

Does not the golden rule then mean the same 
thing as this commandment? 

13, 14. What counsel does Jesus give respecting the 
strait gate and the narrow way ? 

What is the meaning of strait? 


46 


Lesson XII. — Matt. vii. 1-14. 


What is meant by the strait gate and the narrow 

way? 

Why is a life of Christian obedience represented 
by entering in at a strait gate and walking in 
a narrow way ? 

What is signified by the wide gate and the hroad 
way? 

Why is a life of sin represented by entering in 
at a wide gate and walking in a broad way ? 

If you follow your appetites and passions whither 
will they conduct you P 

Which will require the greater pains and reso¬ 
lution,— to follow your inclinations, or to 
deny them ? 

Can you inform me now, why it is that com¬ 
paratively so few find the way of life 5 and so 
many walk in the broad way ? 

What must a person do who would become a 
disciple of Jesus ? Matt. xvi. 24. 

Does it not sometimes happen that a person 
thinks he is in a right way when he is not ? 
Prov. xiv. 12. 

What is said of the way of transgressors, in 
Prov. xiii. 15 ? 

What is said of the ways of wisdom, in Prov. 
iii. 17? 


47 




LESSON XIII. 

Matt. vii. 15-29. 

15, What caution does Jesus give respecting false 

teachers ? 

Why are they said to come in sheep's clothing ? 
Why does he call them ravenous wolves ? 

What then must be the object of such teachers? 

16. How can we distinguish them from true teachers, 

if they, come in sheep’s clothing or with a fair 
outward appearance ? 

How can they be known by their fruits ? 

What is meant by their fruits ? 

16-20. What comparison does Jesus introduce to 
illustrate this subject? 

In tliis comparison what does the good tree re¬ 
present ? 

What is signified by the corrupt tree ? 

What is meant by a corrupt tree ? 

Can you show how this comparison applies to 
the subject of false teachers , which it is design¬ 
ed to illustrate ? 

May we not judge ourselves and others by this 
rule as well as false teachers ? 

What conclusion have we a right to draw when 
the conduct of a person is bad ? 

What judgment should we form of his character 
when his conduct is habitually good ? 


48 Lesson XIII. — Matt. vii. 15-29. 


What kind of conduct may be called good fruit? 
Gal. v. 22, 23. 

21. Can you repeat what Jesus has said of the terms 

of admission into the kingdom of heaven ? 
What is meant by saying Lord , Lord ? 

Was it because they cried Lord, Lord, that they 
were to be excluded ? 

Why would they be excluded ? 

Who will be admitted ? 

What is it to do the ivill of God ? 

22 . What will many say to Jesus in that day ? 

What day is here meant ? 

What is it to prophesy in Jesus' name ? 

What is it to cast out devils? 

What is it to do ivonderful ivorks ? 

23. What will Jesus say to many persons who have 

done these things ? 

Why are such persons excluded from the king¬ 
dom of heaven ? 

What is to work iniquity ? 

Jesus will say to such persons that he never 
knew them : does he mean by this to inti¬ 
mate that he was ignorant of their char¬ 
acter ? 

What is meant by this term in this and in some 
other places in the New Testament ? Com¬ 
pare John x. 14 ; 1 Cor. viii. 3; 2 Tim. ii. 19. 

24. 25. W hat similitude does Jesus employ to inti¬ 

mate the security of him who observes these 
sayings of his ? 

What sayings are intended ? 


Lesson XIII.-— Matt. vi. 15-29. 


49 


26, 27. By what similitude does he intimate the 
danger of him who hears these sayings, but 
does not observe them ? 

Can you mention any circumstances relating to 
the climate and manner of building houses in 
Judea to show the propriety of this com¬ 
parison ? 

Why would a house built of hardened day he 
more secure when raised on a foundation of 
rock or stone ? 

Is the land of Judea subject to sudden inunda¬ 
tions and violent winds ? 

What is said of the security and happiness of 
the good man, in Psalms i. 1-3? 

What is said of the insecurity and misery of the 
wicked, in Psalms i. 4-6 ? 

28. How were the people affected by this discourse 

of Jesus ? 

29. What was his manner of teaching ? 

What authority did Jesus claim? John xii. 
49, 50. 

Who were the Scribes ? 

What was their manner of teaching? 

Did they teach with divine authority, or merely 
explain what had been taught by others? 

In what respects then did the teaching of Jesus 
differ from that of the Scribes? 

If the precepts of Jesus were such as the Father 
gave him a commandment to enjoin, how 
should you regard them ? 

5 


50 


LESSON XIV. 

Parable of the Sower. 

Matt. xiii. 1-23. —Mark iv. 1-20. — Luke viii. 4-15. 

1-3. Where was Jesus, and where were the people 
whom he addressed, at the time he delivered 
the parable of the Sower ? 

What induced him to go into a ship ? 

What sea is here meant? 

4-8. Can you repeat the parable of the Sower ? 

Who is represented by the Sower in the parable ? 

What does the seed that was sown represent? 

What are represented by the different kinds of 
soil on which the seed fell? 

What class of hearers is represented by the seed 
that fell by the ivay side ? v. 1 9. 

In the explanation that Jesus gives of this para¬ 
ble, what is meant by the word of the king¬ 
dom ? 

What is meant by the fowls coming and devour¬ 
ing the seed ? 

Are there not some persons who are so stupid 
and insensible, that the good instructions 
which they receive make no impression on 
their hearts ? 

Might not such persons be naturally liken¬ 
ed to seed sown in the highway or beaten 
path ? 


Lesson XIV. — Matt. xiii. 1-23. 51 


Why would the seed that fell upon stony or 
rocky places be likely to spring up forthwith , 
and afterward to he scorched by the sun ? 

What is the meaning of forthwith? 

What class of hearers is represented by the 
seed that fell upon rocky places , where there 
was but a thin layer of soil ? vv. 20, 21. 

What is the meaning of anon ? 

What is to he offended because of the ivord? 

Is a person at all the better for having had seri¬ 
ous impressions of religion, if these impres¬ 
sions do not lead him to reform his heart and 
life ? 

What is said of the goodness of Ephraim and 
Judah, in Hos. vi. 4 ? 

What class of he&rers is denoted by the seed that 
fell among thorns ? v. 22. 

What is signified by the thorns choking the seed? 

What is meant by the care of this world? 

In what consists the deceitfulness of riches? 
1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. 

What does Jesus say of them that trust in riches, 
in Mark x. 24 ? 

What else besides wordly cares and riches are 
said to choke the word, in Luke viii. 14 ? 

What class of persons is most likely to be en¬ 
snared by the pleasures of the world ? 

What is said of one ivho liveth in pleasure , in 
1 Tim. v. 6 ? 

What is meant by becoming unfruitful ? 


52 


Lesson XIV. — Matt . xiii. 1-23. 

Who are represented by the seed that fell upon 
good ground ? v. 23. 

What is meant by bearing fruit ? 

What is meant by bringing forth an hundred¬ 
fold, sixty-fold , and thirty-fold ? 

May we not learn from this that there are dif¬ 
ferent degrees of goodness among the true 
disciples of Jesus ? 

In what way may a person glorify God, and show 
that he is a true disciple of Jesus ? John xv. 8. 
What kind of fruit will the real Christian bring 
forth ? Gal. v. 22, 23. 

9. What did Jesus say to draw the attention of his 
hearers to the lesson taught in this parable ? 

11. Who were, and who were not, permitted to un¬ 

derstand the mysteries of the kingdom of 
heaven? 

What is the meaning of mystery ? 

What is here meant by the mysteries of the 
kingdom of heaven P 

12. Why was it permitted to the disciples of Jesus, 

and not to others, to have this understanding ? 
What kinds of persons are intended by the 
phrases, whosoever hath , and ivhosoever hath 
not ? 

13. What reason does Jesus give for speaking to the 

people in parables ? 

What is a parable ? 

What is here meant by a person’s seeing and not 
seeing ; and hearing and not hearing ? 


Lesson XIV. — Matt. xiii. 1-23. 


53 


Are there not apparently many persons who pos¬ 
sess faculties which they will not bring into 
exercise ? 

Was not that the case with many of the Jews of 
our Saviour’s time ? 

14, 15. What saying of the prophet Isaiah was veri¬ 
fied in them P Isaiah vi. 9, 10. 

Was it God that made them blind, and deaf, 
and insensible, or did they make themselves 
so? 

Do you suppose that God was unwilling that 
they should be converted and healed ? Ez. 
xxxiii. 11. 

Is God. willing that any should perish in their 
sins? 2 Peter iii. 9. 

16. For what did Jesus congratulate his disciples? 

Does Jesus refer in these words to the external 

organs of sight and hearing, or to the faculties 
of the mind ? 

17. What peculiar privileges did they enjoy which 

had been denied to prophets and righteous 
men of former days-? 

Does Jesus mean to imply that his disciples 
were really better men than the prophets, or 
only that they enjoyed greater privileges? 

To what is the kingdom of God likened, in Mark 
iv. 26-29 ? 

Does not the progress of vegetation beautifully 
represent the progressive nature of true reli¬ 
gion ? 


5* 


54 


Lesson XV. — Matt. xiii. 24-43. 


What is the plant, when it first springs up out of 
the earth, here called ? 

What is it, when full grown ? 

What is it, when fully ripe ? 


LESSON XV. 

*; V' ^ l> ' * l/W ") 

Parable of the Wheat and Tares. 

Matt. xiii. 24-43. 

24-30. Can you repeat the parable of the wheat and 
tares ? 

24. What is here meant by the kingdom of heaven ? 

What does the field denote ? v. 38. 

Who is represented by the man who sowed good 
seed ? v. 37. 

What does the good seed denote ? v. 38. 

Who are meant by the children of the kingdom ? 
v. 43. 

Of what kingdom are good men the subjects ? 

25. What was done while men slept ? 

What is signified by this expression, while men 
slept ? 

Who is meant by the enemy that solved tares ? 
v. 39. 

What is denoted by the tares ? v. 38. 



Lesson XV. — Matt. xiii. 24-43. 55 

Can you give any account of the plant called 
tares ? 

Is not the plant which now goes by this name a 
useful plant ? 

Is it not probable then that some other plant is 
intended in this parable P * 

26. When did the tares [darnel] make their appear¬ 

ance ? 

27, 28. What did the servants purpose to do when 

they saw the tares among the wheat ? 

29, 30. What did their master say to their pro¬ 
posal ? 

What is denoted by the harvest ? v. 39. 

What is denoted by the reapers ? v. 39. 

What is meant by the tares being gathered and 
burned in the fire ? vv. 41, 42. 

What is meant by all things that offend ? v. 41. 

What is meant by casting them into a furnace of 
fire ? v. 42. 

What is represented by gathering the wheat into 
the barn ? v. 43. 

What is said of the righteous and the wicked, in 
Daniel xii. 2, 3 ? 

What is implied in the expression, There shall 
be ivailing and gnashing of teeth ? 

Who is required to hear , that is, to attend to , this 
parable ? v. 43. 

What is implied in this expression? 

Can you mention any reasons why a separation 
of the wicked from the good should not be 
made in this life ? 


56 


Lesson XV. — Matt. xiii. 24-43. 


What advantages may result to the wicked from 
being suffered to live with the good ? 

In what way may the good be benefited by living 
in a mixed society of the bad and good ? 

Are not the lives of bad men sometimes valuable 
to their friends and to society ? 

Why would it be dangerous to give to men ab¬ 
solute authority to exterminate the wicked? 

What evils might be expected to arise, if Chris¬ 
tians should assume such an authority over 
their fellow Christians ? 

Has such authority ever been assumed and ex¬ 
ercised in the Christian church? 

What evils resulted from it? 

Who is the only infallible Judge of character ? 

How will God judge the world ? Acts xvii. 31. 

31, 32. To what else is the kingdom of heaven 
likened ? 

Are we to understand this to mean that the 
grain of mustard-seed is actually the least of 
all seeds, or only that it is very small com¬ 
pared with the herb which it produces ? 

Was not the seed proverbially small? Matt, 
xvii. 20. 

Does it produce a larger plant in Judea than in 
our climate ? 

Can you now show the propriety of this compar¬ 
ison ; or show how the progress of Christian¬ 
ity is like the growth of the mustard plant? 

33. What other comparison does Jesus make to show 
the nature of the Christian dispensation ? 


Lesson XVI. — Matt. xiii. 44-58. 57 


What is leaven ? 

How much are three measures ? See Table. 
Why is this quantity mentioned ? 

What is the effect of the leaven upon the meal 
or flour ? 

What effect is Christianity designed to have on 
mankind ? 

Can you show the propriety of this comparison ? 


LESSON XVI. 

The Parables of the Treasure, the Pearl of Great 
Price , and the JVet cast into the Sea. 

Matt. xiii. 44-58. 

44. Can you repeat the parable of the hid treasure ? 
What is meant by this treasure ? 

What is intimated by the man’s being willing to 
part with all his property for the sake of 
securing this treasure ? 

For what ought you to be willing to give up 
every thing you have on earth ? 

45, 46. What is the parable of the pearl of great 

price ? 

What is a pearl ? 

What is the meaning of goodly pearls ? 

What is a merchant-man ? 



58 Lesson XVI. — Matt, xiii. 44-58. 


Where are pearls found, and how are they ob¬ 
tained ? 

What is here represented by the pearl of great 
price 1 

In what terms is the excellence of wisdom , that 
is, of true religion , set forth in Proverbs iii. 
13-18? 

What reward is promised to him who relin¬ 
quishes earthly possessions for the sake of the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ, in Matt. xix. 29 ? 

47, 48. By what other similitude does Jesus illus¬ 
trate the nature of the Christian dispensation • 
In what respects may Christianity be likened to 
a net cast into the sea ? 

What does the net collect?. 

What has been the character of those who have 
embraced Christianity ? 

49, 50. How will it be with such at the end of the 
world ? 

What is the meaning of sever ? 

Can you point out any resemblance between this 
parable, and that of the wheat and lares ? 

51. Did the disciples require any explanation of 

these three parables ; or were they able of 
themselves to understand them ? 

52. To what does Jesus liken a. scribe , instructed 

unto the kingdom of heaven ? 

What is the meaning of a scribe ? 

What is meant by instructed unto the kingdom of 
heaven ? 

What character is here denoted by a scribe ? 


Lesson XVI. — Matt. xiii. 44-58. 59 


What resemblance is there between a well in¬ 
structed teacher of religion and a wise house¬ 
holder or head of a family ? 

How would the latter provide for the comfort 
of his family and the entertainment of his 
guests ? 

What is meant by the householder’s bringing 
new and old things out of his treasure ? 

Ought not the teacher of religion to take pains 
to interest his hearers, after the manner of 
the Great Teacher, Jesus Christ, by exhibit¬ 
ing a pleasing variety both in the subjects 
treated and in the manner of illustrating 
them ? 

53, 54, Where was Jesus at the time he delivered 
these parables ? Compare vv. 1 and 36. 

Whither did Jesus go when he had finished 
these parables ? 

What place is meant by his oivn country ? Luke 
iv. 16. 

How did he employ himself there ? 

What is a synagogue ? 

On what day did he teach in the synagogue ? 
Mark vi. 2. 

How were the people affected by his teaching? 

55, 56. How did they express their astonishment at 
his wisdom ? 

Whence did he derive his wisdom ? 

57. Were they ready to acknowledge his divine 
claims ? 

What is the meaning of offended ? 


60 


Lesson XVII. — Lulce. v. 29-39. 


58. What reply did Jesus make to their objections ? 

What is the meaning of save? 

Why is not a prophet honored as much in his 
own neighbourhood as in places more remote ? 

Why did he refuse to perform many miracles in 
Nazareth ? 

What miracles did he perform there ? Mark 
vi. 5. 

How did he regard the unbelief of his country¬ 
men ? Mark vi. 6. 

How did he employ himself in that neighbour¬ 
hood ? Mark vi. 6. 


LESSON XVII. 

Jesus's Discourse at Levi's Feast. 

Luke v. 29-39. 

29. For whom did Levi make a feast? 

Who were the invited guests ? 

Who was this Levi? Compare Mark ii. 14, 15, 
with Matt. ix. 9, 10. 

What office did lie hold ? 

What are meant by publicans ? 

30. What complaint did the Scribes and Pharisees 

make of Jesus’s disciples ? 

31. What reply did Jesus make to this charge? 
What is the meaning of they that are whole ? 



Lesson XVII. — Luke v. 29-39.’ 


61 


Who are to be understood by this phrase ? 

Who are meant by they that art sick ? 

What is the nature of their disease ? 

In what respects is sin like a disease? 

Who is meant by the physician ? 

32. What is here stated as the object for which 

Jesus came into the world ? 

What is repentance ? 

What is it to call sinners to repentance ? 

Why is it necessary that sinners should repent? 
Luke xiii. 3. 

What does Jesus tell them to go and learn, in 
Matt. ix. 13 ? 

How is this sentiment expressed in Hos. vi. 6? 
What is the sentiment conveyed by these words ? 

33. What question do the disciples of John (see 

Matt. ix. 14) put to Jesus respecting fasting 
and prayer ? 

34. 35. What does Jesus reply to this question ? 
Who is meant by the bridegroom? John iii. 29. 
Who are meant by the children of the bride- 

chamber ? 

Can you give any account of Jewish weddings ? 
To what event does Jesus allude, when he says 
tliat the bridegroom will be taken away from 
them ? 

Why was it more suitable at that time for the 
disciples of John to fast and mourn, than for 
the disciples of Jesus? . 

Where was John at that time ? 

6 


62 Lesson XVIII. — Matt, xviii. 1-14. 


What account can you give of John’s imprison¬ 
ment and death ? 

36. By what similitude does Jesus show the incon¬ 
gruity of fasting and other demonstrations of 
grief, with a state of prosperity and happi¬ 
ness ? 

37-39. What other example does he introduce to 
show this incongruity ? 

Why is new wine more likely to burst the bot¬ 
tles than that which is old ? 

Why were old bottles more unfit for service 
than new ? 

Are not bottles made of glass as strong when 
old as when they were new ? 

Of what substance were the Jewish bottles 
made ? 

39. Which is commonly preferred, old or new wine ? 


LESSON XVIII. 

Jesus teaches Humility. 

Matt, xviii. 1-14. 

1. What question did the disciples put to Jesus at 
this time ? 

Where were they at the time they proposed this 
question ? Mark ix. 33. 


Lesson XVIII. — Matt, xviii. 1-14. 63 


What dispute had arisen between them on their 
way to this place ? Mark ix. 34. 

What kind of a kingdom did the disciples ex¬ 
pect ? 

2-4. What method did Jesus take to correct their 
erroneous views and to. teach them humility ? 

What is it to be humble ? 

Why was it necessary that the disciples should 
be converted before they could enter into the 
kingdom of heaven ? 

What is the meaning of converted ? 

Were the disciples at this time unprincipled and 
wicked men ? 

Why then did they need to be converted ? 

What was wrong in their character or views ? 

In what respects would Jesus have his disciples 
be like children ? 

What does the apostle Paul say on this subject, 
in 1 Cor. xiv. 20 ? 

Whom did Jesus pronounce to be greatest in the 
kingdom of heaven ? 

How does Jesus describe the nature of true 
greatness, in Matt. xx. 26, 27 ? 

Can you mention any of the advantages of hu¬ 
mility ? 

Which will render a person most amiable, hu¬ 
mility or pride ? 

Which should you choose for an intimate friend, 
a person of a proud, or one of a humble spirit ? 

To which should you be more willing to do a 
kindness ? 


64 Lesson XVIII. — Matt, xviii. 1-14. 


Which do you think is the happier, the proud or 
the humble man ? 

What excellent counsel is given to the young in 
1 Pet. v. 5. 

What seven things are said to be an abomina¬ 
tion unto the Lord , in Prov. vi. 17-19? 

5. What is said concerning receiving one such little 

child in the name of Christ ? 

What is it to receive a person in the name of 
Christ ? 

What is here meant by one such little child ? 
What then is the encouragement we have to be 
kind to humble persons, such as resemble a 
child in disposition ? 

How is the same sentiment expressed in Matt, 
x. 42? 

6 . What does Jesus say to intimate the wickedness 

of offending , that is, of ensnaring one of these 
little ones ? 

Was the punishment here alluded to ever in¬ 
flicted on criminals ? 

What then should you think of a person who 
should endeavour in any way to corrupt your 
mind and to draw you into sin ? 

What would be your duty in such a case ? Prov. 
i. 10. 

What other temptations are to be guarded against 
besides the enticements of the wicked ? 

7. In what terms does Jesus lament for the evils 

that he foresaw would come upon the world 
because of offences ? 


Lesson XVIII. — Matt, xviii. 1-14. 65 


What is the meaning of must needs be ? 

Why is it necessary that offences , or temptations, 
come ? 

Are wicked men under any necessity of enticing 
others to sin ? 

8 . What does Jesus direct you to do when your 

hand or your foot offends you ? 

What is the difference between halt and maimed ? 

9. What are you to do when your eye offends you ? 
What duty is enjoined in these words ? (See 

questions on Matt. v. 29, 30, in Lesson VI.) 

10. Whom did Jesus direct his disciples not to 

despise r 

What reason did he give why they ought not to 
despise such P 

To what opinion, prevalent among the Jews, does 
he probably allude in these words ? 

What may we learn from this declaration of 
Jesus ? 

11. What other reason does Jesus give why we 

should not despise any, however humble their 
condition ? 

What was the conduct of our Saviour in this 
particular ? 

What persons are meant by the expression that 
which was lost ? 

12-14. What beautiful parable does Jesus here in¬ 
troduce ? 

What is the design of this parable ? 

W'ho is represented by the shepherd ? 

Who by the sheep ? 

6* 


66 Lesson XVIII. — Matt, xviii. 1-14. 

' . \ 

What persons are meant by the sheep that went 
not astray ? 

Wiio by the lost sheep ? 

What is intended by the joy of the shepherd on 
occasion of finding the lost sheep ? 

Are we to understand from this parable, that 
God regards with more favor the reclaimed 
sinner, than the Christian of confirmed habits 
of virtue ? 

Does the shepherd really value more highly the 
sheep that have strayed away, than those 
which have remained in the pasture ? 

May not the recovery of the one strayed sheep 
occasion, for the time, greater joy than was 
felt for the ninety and nine which went not 
astray ? 

Can you tell now why there should be more joy 
in heaven over one sinner that repenteth than 
over ninety and nine just persons who need 
no repentance ? 




LESSON XIX. 


Some Instructions of Jesus relating to Offences and the 
Duty of Forgiveness. 

Matt, xviii. 15-35. 

15. Should your brother, a member of the same 

church or Christian Society, trespass against 
you, what is it your duty first to do ? 

What is the meaning of trespass ? 

Why should you endeavour first to obtain re¬ 
dress in private ? 

What is meant by gaining thy brother ? 

Would it not commonly be much easier to settle 
private controversies and misunderstandings 
in this way than in any other ? 

With what spirit should you ask for redress or 
explanation ? 

Would it be right in every case to demand 
redress ? 

16. In case you should not succeed in your first 

attempt, what are you to do next ? 

17. Should you be unable to reclaim the offender by 

either of these methods, what are you then to 
do? 

What is here meant by the church 7 
What was a Jewish church ? 


68 Lesson XIX. — Matt, xviii. 15-35. 

What was a Christian church in the days of the 
apostles ? 

What is meant by treating him as a heathen man 
and a publican ? 

18. If the disciples should proceed after this manner 

in their endeavours to reclaim an offender, 
how may they expect that their proceedings 
will be regarded by God ? 

19. What other promise is made to them ? 

Is this promise to be understood as applicable in 
its literal sense to common Christians, or only 
to the Apostles who were inspired ? 

May it not however be understood to imply that 
union and concert in prayer, and in other 
means of promoting true religion, are accept¬ 
able to God ? 

20. Under what circumstances does Jesus promise 

to be with his disciples ? 

In what sense is Christ present with his disci¬ 
ples, when they are gathered together in his 
name ? 

21. What question did Peter propose to Jesus con¬ 

cerning the forgiveness of injuries ? 

22. What was Jesus’ reply ? 

What is probably the meaning of this reply ? 

Are we required to forgive a person who does 
not repent ? Luke xvii. 4. 

Plow should you feel towards a person who has 
injured you and who refuses to make any 
reparation for the injury ? 

What instruction does Jesus give on this subject, 
in Matt. v. 44 ? 


Lesson XIX. — Matt, xviii. 15-35. 69 


23-34. fiy what parable does our Lord teach the 
duty of forgiveness ? 

Who is intended by the king in this parable ? 

What is meant by taking account of his servants ? 

How much is a talent ? 

How much are 10,000 talents ? 

What is here meant by worshipped him ? 

How much are 100 pence ? 

What is the meaning of tormentors ? 

How may we expect to be treated by our heav¬ 
enly Father, if we cherish a revengeful and 
unforgiving temper ? 

Can you tell me now what is intended to be 
represented by the debt of 10,000 talents ? 

What does the remission of this debt represent? 

What evidence can you produce from the Scrip¬ 
tures of God’s willingness to forgive our 
offences ? 

What is represented by the debt of 100 pence ? 

What is represented by the refusal of the ser¬ 
vant to grant any indulgence to his fellow- 
servant who was indebted to him? 

What is represented by the imprisonment of the 
hard-hearted creditor? 


70 


LESSON XX. 

Jesus teaches that great Calamities are no certain Evi¬ 
dence of uncommon Guilt. 

Luke xiii. 1-9. 

1. Of what cruel act of Pilate was Jesus informed ? 

Who was Pilate ? 

Who were the Galileans ? 

How were these Galileans employed at the time 
they were thus massacred ? 

What are sacrifices ? 

2, 3. What remark did Jesus make when informed 
of their fate ? 

What may we learn from his reply ? 

Have we a right to infer that, where there is 
great suffering, there must be great guilt ? 

What are many persons apt to conclude when 
they hear of any great calamity happening to 
any one ? 

What opinion did the friends of Job form of him 
when they saw how great sufferings God had 
brought upon him ? Job xv. xviii. and xxii. 

What was the character of Job ? Job i. 1. 

Have not great afflictions often happened to the 
righteous ? 

What is said of some of whom the world was not 
worthy , in Heb. xi. 36-38 ? 


Lesson XX. — LuJce xiii. 1-9. 


71 


What other remarkable instances of the suffer¬ 
ings of good men can you mention ? 

Can you give any account of the Massacre of St. 
Bartholomew's Day ? of the cruel treatment 
of the Puritans in England ? of the Protest¬ 
ants in France at the revocation of the Edict 
ofNantz? of the sufferings of the First Set¬ 
tlers of New England ? 

Would it be right to conclude that these persons 
were very wicked because they suffered such 
things ? 

Are not sufferings sometimes inflicted on the 
wicked as a punishment for their sins ? 

Can you mention any instances of this kind ? 

Which are more likely to be preserved from 
great calamities, the righteous or the wicked ? 
Ps. xxxvii. 

What is said of the wicked and of the just, in 
Prov. iii. 33 ? 

Under what circumstances may suffering be 
referred to the just judgment of God ? 

4, 5. What other instance of sudden calamity is 
alluded to* by our Saviour ? 

Where was the tower of Siloam ? 

Why did people resort to that place ? John ix. 7. 

Are not good men sometimes destroyed by sud¬ 
den and dreadful calamity ? 

Would it not then be rash and presumptuous to 
conclude that a person was peculiarly wicked, 
because he was destroyed by some fatal cas¬ 
ualty, such as the falling of a tree, or the 


72 Lesson XX. — Luke xiii. 1-9. 

upsetting of a boat, or by lightning, an earth¬ 
quake, or a tempest ? 

What serious warning does Jesus give to those 
who were disposed to pronounce such rash 
and uncharitable judgments ? 

6-9. What parable did Jesus introduce to show the 
necessity of the immediate reformation of the 
wicked ? 

Who are represented by the Jig-tree in this par¬ 
able ? 

Who is intended by the man that planted the 
fig-tree in his vineyard ? 

What peculiar advantages had God bestowed 
on the Jewish nation ? 

What is represented by the unfruitfulness of the 
fig-tree after all that had been done for it ? 

What is represented by the man’s sparing the 
fig-tree a little longer for the purpose of try¬ 
ing new methods of culture ? 

To what event does the cutting down of the fig- 
tree refer? 

What important lesson may we learn from this 
parable ? 

God has furnished you with the means of be¬ 
coming holy; you are supplied with books 
and teachers and kind friends; and the Holy 
Spirit is promised to every one that asketh ; — 
God is waiting to see what use you make of 
these distinguished privileges. Should you 
suffer year after year to pass without improve¬ 
ment, what would you have just cause to 
fear? 


73 


LESSON XXI. 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan. 

Luke x. 25-37. 

25. What question was put to Jesus by a certain 

lawyer ? 

What is here meant by a lawyer ? 

By what system of laws were the Jews gov¬ 
erned ? 

Was the question proposed by this teacher of 
the Jewish law an important one ? 

Does it appear that he wished for information, 
or that he only aimed to ensnare Jesus ? 
What is here meant by tempted ? 

26. To what does Jesus refer him for an answer ? 

27. What two important precepts of the Jewish law 

did this person then adduce ? 

Where are these precepts found ? Deut. vi. 5, 
and Lev. xix. 18. 

28. What did Jesus say in reference to these pre¬ 

cepts ? 

What did he say on another occasion, when ask¬ 
ed by one of the Pharisees which was the 
great commandment in the law ? Matt. xxii. 
35-40 ; and Mark xii. 28-34. 

What is it to love God with all the heartland soul, 
and strength, and mind ? 

What is it to love our neighbour as ourselves ? 

7 


74 


Lesson XXI. — Luke x. 25-37. 


How is this expressed in Matt. vii. 12 ? 

Why should you love God more than any other 
being ? 

What is there in the character of God that is 
amiable and attractive ? 

In what ways has God manifested his kindness 
to men ? 

What will God do for them that love him ? Rom. 
viii. 28. 

What is the best evidence we can give that we 
truly love God ? 1 John v. 3. 

What connexion is there between the love of 
God and the love of our neighhour ? 1 John 
iv. 20. 

Why may all our social duties be comprehended 
in love to our neighbour ? Rom. xiii. 9, 10. 

If a person love his neighbour as himself, would 
he be disposed to injure him in any way ? 

Whom does this precept require us to love ? 

Who was regarded by the Jews as a neighbour? 

29. How did this Jewish teacher expect to justify 

himself in regard to this subject? 

What is it to justify one's self ? 

What method did Jesus take to remove his pre¬ 
judice, and to give him more enlarged and 
liberal views of his duty ? 

30-35. You may repeat the parable of the Good Sa- 
maritan. 

30. How far and in what direction is Jericho from 

Jerusalem ? 


Lesson XXI. — Luke x. 25-37. 75 

What reason can be given why the scene of this 
robbery was laid in the region between Jeru¬ 
salem and Jericho ? 

31,32. Who passed that way after the robbery was 
committed ? 

Who were the priests and the Levites ? 

Did they notice the wounded man ? 

Did they give him any assistance ? 

33. By whom was he at length relieved ? 

Who were the Samaritans ? 

How did the Jews and Samaritans commonly 
regard each other? John iv. 9. 

34. What did this Samaritan do for the relief of the 

man who fell among thieves ? 

Was it common for persons travelling in the 
East to carry with them oil and ivine % 

For what purposes were they used ? 

What account can you give of an Eastern inn or 
caravansery ? 

35. How long did the Samaritan remain with the 

wounded man ? 

What did he do when he left him ? 

How much are two pence in our currency ? 

Could not more be purchased for this sum at the 
time of our Saviour’s ministry than now ? 
Who is meant by the host ? 

36. 37. What confession is the Jewish teacher, not¬ 

withstanding all his prejudices, compelled to 
make ? 

How did Jesus direct him to apply the parable ? 
What may we learn from this parable ? 


76 


Lesson XXII. — Luke xiv. 1-24. 


Should you find any one, whether an acquaint¬ 
ance or a stranger, a friend or an enemy, in 
distress, what ought you to do ? 

What direction does the Apostle Paul give, in 
Gal. vi. 10? 


LESSON XXII. 

The Parable of the Great Supper. 

Luke xiv. 1-24. 

1. On what day did Jesus visit at the house of one 
of the chief Pharisees ? 

With what feelings is it probable he was regard¬ 
ed by the persons present ? 

2-4. What miracle did he perform on this occasion? 
What question did he ask the Pharisees before 
he wrought this miracle? 

Did they make any reply to this question ? 

5. What example did Jesus bring to convince them 

that it was lawful to heal a person on the 
Sabbath day ? 

6. How were they affected by this appeal to their 

own practice ? 

8-10. What instructions did Jesus give to the 
guests at the table, when he marked how 
they chose out the chief rooms or seats ? 



Lesson XXII. — LuJce xiv. 1-24. 77 

What was the Jewish manner of reclining 1 at 
feasts ? 

11. What general reflection does Jesus make on the 
subject? 

Which' is more honorable, to promote one’s 
self, or to be promoted by others ? 

Which are more likely to obtain honor, the 
humble or the proud ? 

What important lesson is taught in Prov. xviii. 
12 ? 

12-14. What instructions did Jesus give to his host 
respecting social entertainments ? 

What do you understand by his forbidding us to 
show hospitality to the rich, and directing us 
to be hospitable to the poor ? 

What does he mean when he tells us in John vi. 
27, not to labor for the meat which perish- 
eth, but for that which endureth unto everlast¬ 
ing life ? 

Does he mean absolutely to forbid us to labor 
for our food, or only to imply that we should 
be more anxious to gain the favor of God, 
than the possessions of this life ? 

Which then, may we conclude, are more accept¬ 
able to God, — favors shown to the rich or to 
the poor ? 

15. What remark of one of the guests gave occasion 
to the introduction of the Parable of the Great 
Supper ? 

What is probably here meant by eating bread in 
the kingdom of God ? 

7* 


78 


Lesson XXII. — Luke xiv. 1-24. 


16-24. Repeat the parable of the Supper. 

16. Who is represented by the person that made the 

feast ? 

Who by the servant that was sent to invite the 
guests ? 

What is represented by the feast? 

Who by the persons invited ? 

17. What is intended by sending a servant to remind 

them of their engagement ? 

18-20. What is meant by the excuses which they 
offered ? 

Were not the invitations given to the leading 
men among the Jews to partake of the bless¬ 
ings of the gospel, generally rejected on as 
frivolous reasons as those here mentioned ? 

21. How was the master of the house affected when 
he learned that his offers were slighted ? 
What did he direct his servant to do? 

Who are intended by the persons now invited ? 
Were not the common people in general more 
ready to become the disciples of Jesus than 
the rich and learned ? 

23. What was the servant directed to do when it 

was found that there was yet room ? 

Who are represented by the persons found in 
the highways and hedges? 

With what propriety could the Gentiles be thus 
denoted ? 

What is meant by compelling them to come in ? 
Does God force men to partake of the blessings 
of the gospel ? 

24. What is meant by the declaration that none of 


Lesson XXIII. — Luke xv. 


79 


those men who were first invited should taste 
of the supper ? 

Why were tiiey excluded ? 

Is it not common now for persons to offer ex¬ 
cuses for the neglect of religion ? 

Can any good and satisfactory excuse be offered? 
Why not ? 


LESSON XXIII. 

Parables of the Lost Sheep , of the Lost Piece of Money , 
and of the Prodigal Son. 

Luke xv. 

1, 2. On what account did the Scribes and Phari¬ 
sees complain of the conduct of Jesus ? 

3-6. In reply to the charge which they brought 
against him of associating with sinners, Jesus 
appeals to their own conduct in other things: 
what is the first instance he adduces ? 

Can you point out any resemblance between his 
own conduct with which the Scribes and 
Pharisees find fault, and the conduct of a 
shepherd who goes in search of a lost sheep? 

7. What is denoted by the joy manifested on the 
recovery of the lost sheep ? 

To what persons does the lost sheep in this par¬ 
able refer ? v. 1. 



80 


Lesson XXIII. — Luke xv. 


Who are probably intended by the just persons 

who need no repentance 2 

Were the Scribes and Pharisees in fact so good 
that they needed no repentance, or does Jesus 
merely allude to the high opinion they enter¬ 
tained of themselves ? 

In what sense is it true that more joy is felt on 
the occasion of finding what was lost, than is 
derived from what has remained secure ? 

Is the one sheep that was lost in fact valued 
more highly than all the rest of the flock ? 

Is the sinner that repents an object of more com¬ 
placency in the sight of God than others 
whose conduct has been habitually pure and 
good ? 

8-10. What other illustration does Jesus employ ? 

What is the value, in our currency, of the piece 
of silver here mentioned ? 

What is the parable, contained in the remainder 
of this chapter, called ? 

11-32. You may repeat the parable of the Prodigal 
Son ? 

Who is represented by the father in this parable ? 

Who by the younger son ? 

Who by the elder son ? 

What resemblance can you point out between 
the elder son and the Jews, and between the 
younger son and the Gentiles? 

What is represented by the younger son’s for¬ 
saking his father’s house and wasting his pat¬ 
rimony ? 


Lesson XXIII. — Lulce xv. 81 

What is represented by the wretched condition 
to which he was reduced ? 

What is the natural tendency of all sin ? 

What is represented by his coming to himself and 
resolving to return to his father ? 

With what propriety can it be said of a sinner 
who repents and reforms, that he comes to 
himself ? 

What may we learn from the father’s readiness 
to receive his penitent son ? 

Can you mention any texts of Scripture which 
teach us, that God is willing to forgive all 
who truly repent of their sins ? 

What is represented by the joy which was man¬ 
ifested on occasion of the prodigal son’s re¬ 
turn ? 

What is represented by the jealousy and unkind¬ 
ness of the elder brother ? 

With what feelings were the Gentile converts 
to Christianity commonly regarded by the 
believing Jews ? 

What was the occasion of great surprise to the 
Jewish converts ? Acts x. 45. 

What accusation did they bring against Peter, 
when they heard that he had admitted Gen¬ 
tile converts into the Christian church ? Acts 
xi. 3. 

Is it not evidence of a bad disposition, to com¬ 
plain because others are admitted to equal 
privileges with ourselves ? 


82 Lesson XXIV. — Luke xv i. 1-13. 


Had the elder son any just cause of complaint 
against his father ? 

How ought the elder son to have felt on the Oc¬ 
casion of his brother’s return ? 

Why was it meet that they should rejoice on this 
occasion ? 

What should be our feelings when we learn that 
any person who has lived a wicked life, is 
reformed ? 

With what propriety may a person, who lives a 
thoughtless and irreligious life, be said to be 
dead ? 

In what sense is he alive again when he be¬ 
comes a true penitent ? 

Why in the former case is he said to be lost , and 
in the latter to be found ? 


LESSON XXIV. 

Parable of the Unjust Steward. 

Luke xvi. 1-13. 

1-7. What parable is contained in the fifst part of 
this chapter? 

What is a steward ? 

What accusation was brought against the stew¬ 
ard in this parable ? 



Lesson XXIV. — Luke xvi. 1-13. 83 


What did his master direct him to do ? 

What is it to give an account of one's steward¬ 
ship ? 

What plan does the steward adopt to secure a 
place of retreat after he should be dismissed 
from his master’s service ? 

What is the meaning of debtor ? 

How much did the first debtor that he called 
owe his master ? 

How much is a measure (bath) of oil ? 

How many gallons are 100 measures ? 

How did the steward direct him to alter his bill? 
How much was another indebted to his master ? 
How much is a measure of wheat ? 

How many bushels in 100 measures ? 

What alteration was made in this bill ? 

How many are four-score ? 

What was remitted on the first bill ? 

What on the second ? 

8. For what did the master commend the unjust 
steward ? 

Did he commend him for his dishonesty ? 

In what respects was the conduct of this stew¬ 
ard worthy of blame? 

In what respects was it worthy of imitation ? 
What led the steward to provide for himself in 
this dishonest way ? v. 3. 

Why was he not able to dig , or to get his living 
by manual labor ? 

Would it not be well for every one to learn some 
useful art while he is young ? 


84 Lesson XXIV. — Luke xvi. 1-13. 


The steward was too proud to beg ; would it not 
have been less disgraceful to beg , than to 
cheat ? 

Who are meant by the children of this ivorld ? 

Who by the children of light ? 

In what respects are worldly-minded men wiser 
or more prudent than religious men ? 

9. What application does Jesus make of this par¬ 
able ? 

What is meant by the mammon of unrighteous¬ 
ness ? 

Why are earthly possessions so called ? 

Whose friendship should we be most anxious to 
secure by the right use of riches ? 

How must we employ our riches in order to gain 
the friendship of God ? 

What is the meaning of when ye fail ? 

Why will the friendship of God be more valu¬ 
able to us then than that of all others ? 

What is meant by being received into everlast¬ 
ing habitations ? 

Why is the future state of the good so denomi¬ 
nated ? 

Are not all men stewards ? 

Whose stewards are they? 

When must we give an account of our steward¬ 
ship ? 

Why will a prudent man endeavour to be always 
prepared to give an account of his steward¬ 
ship ? 


Lesson XXIV. — Luke xvi. 1-13. 85 


What is it to be prepared for our future ac¬ 
count? 

10. What does Jesus teach respecting a person who 

is faithful or unfaithful in small matters ? 

Would it be safe to entrust an affair of magni¬ 
tude to one who had proved himself dishonest 
in things of little value ? 

11, 1'2. How does Jesus apply this maxim ? 

What is meant by the true richest 

What is meant by being faithful in that which is 
another man's ? 

Why is it proper to speak of riches as not our 
own , but as belonging to another ? 

From whom do we receive them, and to whom 
do they rightfully belong ? 

What is here placed in contrast with that ivhich 
is another man's ? 

Why is the felicity of heaven spoken of as being 
our oion , and not another's ? 

13. In what terms does Jesus teach us that the love 
of the world is inconsistent with the love of 
God? 

What is said of the love of the world and the 
love of God, in 1 John ii. 15-17. 


8 


86 


LESSON XXV. 


Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. 


Luke xvi. 19-31. 


19-31. You may relate the parable of the Rich Man 
and Lazarus. 

By whom were purple dresses chiefly worn? 

VV hat is it to fare sumptuously ? 

Why was Lazarus laid at the gate of the rich 
man ? 

Were there any hospitals, or receptacles for the 
sick and poor, provided in those days ? 

To what are we indebted for most of the benev¬ 
olent institutions of modern times ? 

What became of the poor man when he died ? 

What is meant by being carried into Abraham's 
bosom ? 

To what custom does Jesus allude in these 
words ? John xiii. 23. 

Why is it represented as a distinguished honor 
to be admitted to a close intimacy with Abra¬ 
ham P 

Why is it said of the rich man that he was 
buried ? 

Is it not probable that the poor man also was 
buried ? 

What was the condition of the rich man after 
death ? 


Lesson XXY. — LuJce xvi. 19-31. 87 


Would it be any alleviation to his torments, that 
he had lived in ease and splendor and been 
buried with funeral honors? 

The rich man is represented in the parable as 
seeing and conversing with Abraham ; are we 
to infer from this, that the wicked in a state 
of punishment will be able to hold communi¬ 
cation with the righteous in the kingdom of 
heaven ? 

Are not incidents often introduced into parables 
for ornament or illustration, for which a par¬ 
ticular application is not to be sought ? 

May we infer from the 25th verse, that the rich 
man was punished because he had been rich 
and happy in this life? 

May we infer that the poor man was rewarded 
on account of his poverty and wretchedness? 

What may we infer from their condition after 
death in regard to their conduct and charac¬ 
ter in life ? 

What connexion is there between the present 
and the future state ? Gal. vi. 7, 8. 

What may we infer from the representation 
made in the 2bth verse ? 

Why did the rich man wish that a messenger 
might be despatched to his brethren ? 

What effect did he suppose that such a messen¬ 
ger would have on their minds? 

What may we learn from Abraham’s reply ? 

What did he mean by saying that they had Mo¬ 
ses and the Prophets ? 


Lesson XXV- Luke xvi. 19-31. 


What part of the Scriptures is here meant ? 

Why is it probable that the testimony of one, 
who had risen from the dead, would not be 
more regarded than the revelation that is 
already.made in the sacred Scriptures? 

By what evidence is the truth of divine revela¬ 
tion supported ? 

How do we know that Moses acted under a Di¬ 
vine commission ? 

What reason can you give for believing in the 
divine authority of Jesus Christ ? s 

Could any one who should rise from the dead 
bring stronger evidence than Jesus did, to 
prove that he was a teacher sent from God ? 

Ought we not then to be satisfied with the evi- 
' dence which can be brought in .support of 
Christianity ? 

What is it that often indisposes men to believe 
what God has revealed ?’ 2 Cor. iv. 4. 

What state of mind is best fitted for the recep¬ 
tion of Divine truth ? 


f 


89 


LESSON XXVI. 

Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. 

Matt. xix. 27-30, and xx. 1-16. 

27. What did Peter desire to know concerning those 

who had forsaken all and followed Christ? 

Is it not evident from this question, that Peter 
expected that some peculiar reward would be 
bestowed on such ? 

28. What reward did Jesus say the Apostles would 

receive in the regeneration , or when the Son 
of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory ? 
What is here meant by the regeneration ? 

What is meant by Jesus and the Twelve Apos¬ 
tles sitting upon thrones of judgment? 

What authority did the Apostles possess after 
Christ’s exaltation ? 

29. What is said of the reward of all who should 

relinquish their earthly possessions for the 
sake of the Gospel ? 

30. What does Jesus say will be the case of many 

who are first and of many who are last ? 

What is the meaning of this declaration ? Chap, 
xx. 1-16. 

By what parable does Jesus illustrate this ? 

1-16. You may give some account of this parable. 
How much were the laborers to receive for a 
day’s labor ? 

8* 

l 


90 Lesson XXVI. — Matt . xx. 1-16. 

How much is a Roman penny, or denarius ? 

How was the Jewish day divided ? 

What times of the d&y are signified by the 3d, 
6th, 9th, and '11th hours ? 

Which of the laborers received their pay first? 

Which of the laborers were dissatisfied with 
their wages P 

Why were they dissatisfied ? 

Had they any reason for being dissatisfied ? 

Why not ? 

What is meant by an evil eye ? 

Who is represented by the householder in this 
parable ? 

Who by the laborers ? 

Who are intended by laborers that were hired 
first ? 

Who by those that were set to work at the 
eleventh hour ? 

Hoes it not appear that all went to their work as 
soon as they could find employment? 

If a person embrace the Gospel as soon as it is 
offered to him, does he not deserve as much 
credit as another to whom it was offered be¬ 
fore ? 

Is not this the great lesson taught by this par¬ 
able ? 

Does this parable hold out any encouragement 
.to those who reject the Gospel when it is 
offered to them ? 

Does it hold out any encouragement to those 
who defer repentance till sickness or old age, 
and who trust to a death-bed repentance ? 


Lesson XXVI. — Matt. xx. 1-16. 


91 


What is the proper time for repentance -1 and 
reformation ? * 

Why is the present the proper time ? 

The laborers in the parable went to their work 
as soon as they could find employment; what 
should this teach you ? 

Those who w’ere hired at the eleventh hour had 
a good excuse for not beginning to labor 
sooner ; what was this excuse? 

Could you offer this excuse for not coming to 
Christ, or for not being a Christian ? 

Have you not enjoyed many opportunities for 
religious instruction? 

What is the difference between being called and 
being chosen ? 

Is a person to blame for not being called ? 

Is he to blame, if, after he has been called, he be 
not chosen ? 

Why is he to blame in the latter case and not in 
the former ? 




& 


92 


LESSON XXVII. 

Parable of the Ten Pounds. 

Luke six. 11-27. 

11. On what occasion did Jesus relate the parable of 
the Ten Pounds ? 

Whither were Jesus and his disciples going at 
this time ? 

How far is Jerusalem from Jericho ? 

What erroneous views did the disciples of Jesus 
entertain respecting the kingdom of God ? 

You may repeat the parable, which Jesus made 
to correct the erroneous views of his disciples, 
and to show them on what principles men 
will be rewarded in another world. 

What is represented by the nobleman’s going 
into a far country to receive a kingdom ? 

To what custom, then prevailing in Judea and in 
other countries tributary to the Romans, does 
Jesus here allude ? 

What trust was committed by the nobleman to 
his ten servants ? 

What is the meaning of occupy ? 

What insolent message did his citizens send 
after him ? 

What is this intended to represent? 

What did he do on his return ? 

How much had the first servant that came, gain¬ 
ed by the use of the money entrusted to him ? 


Lesson XXVII. — LuTce xix. 11-27. 93 


What had the second gained ? 

How were they rewarded ? 

Why was the reward of one greater than that of 
the other ? 

What may we learn from this part of the par¬ 
able ? 

What had another of the servants done with the 
pound committed to him? 

What reason did he give for laying it up in a 
napkin ? 

What is the meaning of austere ? 

He accused his master of being stern and tyran¬ 
nical. Do you suppose that such is the char¬ 
acter of God or of Jesus Christ ? 

What ought this servant to have done with his 
lord’s money ? 

What is meant by putting it into the hank ? 

What is the meaning of usury in this place ? 

What do we commonly understand by this term? 

What is said about lending money to the poor on 
usury, in Leviticus xxv. 35, 36, 37. 

What was done with the pound that had been 
kept laid up in a napkin ? 

Why was it taken away from one servant and 
given to another ? 

Why was it given to the one that had the most 
already ? 

Why was he the most deserving of all the ser¬ 
vants ? 

What is meant by him that hath , and him that 
hath not ? 


94 Lesson XXVIII. — Matt. xxi. 28-46. 


If you enjoy privileges which you neglect to im¬ 
prove, what have you reason to fear ? 

What was done with those who sent an insolent 
message to their master after his departure ? 
Compare vv. 14 and 27. 

What is this intended to represent? 

What calamities befell the Jews not long after 
this ? 

The Jews suffered these dreadful calamities for 
rejecting the Saviour ; have we not reason 
to fear that God will be displeased with us, 
should we refuse to own and obey him ? 

What affecting lamentation did Jesus utter in 
view of the calamities that were coming upon 
the Jews ? vv. 41-44. 

When was this prophecy fulfilled ? 

What account can you give of its fulfilment ? 
Read Matt. chap. xxiv. 


LESSON XXVIII. 

Parable of the Tivo Sons , and of the Vineyard. 
Matt. xxi. 28-46. 

What conversation between Jesus and the chief 
priests and elders introduced the parable of 
the Two Sons ? vv. 23-27. 



Lesson XXVIII. — Matt . xxi. 28-46. 95 

28-30. You may repeat the parable of the Two 
Sons. 

Who is represented by the father of these sons P 

What is represented by his sending his sons to 
work in his vineyard ? 

What work has God sent us into the world 
to do ? 

What sort of persons are represented by the 
son who at first refused to go, and afterwards 
repented and went ? 

Who are represented by the son that promised, 
and then refused to go ? 

31, 32. What application did Jesus make of this par¬ 
able ? 

W'hat is meant by publicans and harlots going 
into the kingdom of God sooner than the chief 
men among the Jews ? 

Is it not sometimes found that persons who pro¬ 
mise the most, perform the least ? 

Does it not sometimes happen that persons, who 
appear the least likely, are the most ready to 
embrace the Gospel ? 

What encouragement should we draw from this ? 

From what class of Jews did John meet with the 
most favorable reception? 

What John is here meant ? 

What account can you give of John? 

What is meant by the way of righteousness ? 

Does Jesus mean, that it was John came in the 
way of righteousness, or that he came to the 
Jews ivho professed to he righteous; — such as 


96 Lesson XXVIII. — Matt. xxi. 28-46. 


are represented by the son who said, “ I go, 
sir, but went not ” ? 

33-39. You may give some account of the parable of 
the Vineyard. 

What is a vineyard ? 

Why was a hedge made round the vineyard? 
What is a wine-press ? 
i How was it formed ? 

What was the use of the tower ? 

What does the vineyard represent ? 

Who are meant by the husbandmen to whom the 
vineyard was let out ? 

Who are meant by the servants sent from time 
to time to receive the fruits ? 

What is represented by the cruel treatment these 
servants received ? 

What is said on this subject in Matt, xxiii. 34? 
Who is represented by the son that was sent last 
to receive the fruits of the vineyard ? 

What is represented by the barbarous murder of 
the son-? 

40, 41. What punishment did the Jews say would be 
inflicted on those husbandmen ? 

Who is represented as saying this, in Mark xii.9 ? 

42. What application does Jesus make of this par¬ 

able ? 

To whom was the gospel preached after it had 
been rejected by the Jews ? 

43. What passage of Scripture does Jesus quote from 

Ps. cxviii. 22 ? 


Lesson XXVIII. — Matt. xxi. 28-46. 97 

What is meant by the corner-stone of a building ? 
Where must it be placed to make the head of the 
cornerf 

Who is represented by this chief corner-stone? 

By whom was Jesus exalted to this high dignity ? 
Acts v. 31. 

44. What does Jesus say would be the fate of one 

who should fall on this stone , or to whom he 
should prove a stumbling-block, or a rock of 
offence ? 

What would happen to the person on whom this 
stone should fall ? 

How was this verified in the case of the Jews 
who rejected the Saviour ? 

45, 46. How were the chief priests and Pharisees 

affected by these parables ? 

What prevented them from laying violent hands 
on Jesus ? 

Why were they offended ? 

Are not those persons who feel guilty, commonly 
more ready to take offence, than those who 
have an approving conscience ? 


9 


98 


LESSON XXIX. 


Parable of the Marriage Feast. 

Matt. xxii. 1-44. 

1-14. You may give an account in your own words 
of the parable of the marriage feast. 

What is represented by this feast? 

Why are the blessings of the gospel likened to 
a feast ? 

Who is meant by the king that provided the en¬ 
tertainment ? 

3. Who by the servants that were first sent to 

invite the guests ? 

4. W 7 ho by the other servants sent afterwards ? 

5. What does the indifference shown by some of 

those who were invited represent ? 

6. What is represented by the cruelty of others ? 
What is the meaning of remnants 

7. To what event does Jesus probably refer, when 

he speaks of the punishment of those murder¬ 
ers ? 

9, 10. Who are meant by the persons afterwards 
invited to the feast? 

Can you show how this was fulfilled in the his¬ 
tory of the church ? 

What sort of persons are represented by the 
man who came to the feast without the wed¬ 
ding-garment ? 


Lesson XXIX. — Matt. xxii. 1-14. 99 


What was the wedding-garment of the Jews ? 

What is here represented by the wedding-gar¬ 
ment ? 

What is meant by saying that the man was 
speechless ? 

How can it be shown that he had no sufficient 
excuse for presenting himself w ithout the cus¬ 
tomary dress ? 

How does it appear that persons admitted to the 
enjoyment of Christian privileges, have no 
sufficient excuse for their want of the Chris¬ 
tian virtues ? 

How can they acquire these virtues ? 

What are some of the measures we should use 
in order to become religious ? 

Do you suppose that all who faithfully use the 
means of Christian improvement which they 
enjoy, will become true Christians ? 

Why do you suppose this ? 

Is there any thing in the character of God, as it 
is revealed to us in the holy Scriptures, which 
encourages us to believe that all who will may 
partake of the blessings of the gospel ? 

Can you repeat any texts which give this en¬ 
couragement ? 

13. What may w 7 e learn from the fate of the guest 

who appeared without the wedding-garment? 

14. W' hat is the reflection which Jesus makes at the 

close of the parable ? 

What is the difference between being called and 
being chosen ? 


100 Lesson XXX. — Matt. xxv. 1-13. 


Are men called , or invited , without any reference 
to their moral character? 

Are they chosen or elected , without any reference 
to their character ? 

How does it appear that, while many are called, 
but few are chosen ? 

In what ways are persons called or invited to 
share in the blessings of the gospel ? 

How are these calls received by many ? 

Why do many receive them with coldness and 
ingratitude ? 

Do all who hearken to them at first, continue to 
regard them afterwards ? 

Are the invitations of,the gospel freely extended 
to all of us ? 

Is it not an evidence of base ingratitude to de¬ 
cline accepting them ? 

What is the great lesson conveyed by this par¬ 
able ? 

— 

LESSON XXX. 

Parable of the Ten Virgins. 

Matt. xxv. 1-13. 

1-13. Give an account of the parable of the Ten 
Virgins. 

To what period does Jesus probably refer by the 
term then at the commencement of this par¬ 
able ? See chap. xxiv. 



Lesson XXX. — Matt. xxv. 1-13. 101 


What persons are intended by the virgins? 

Who is represented by the bridegroom ? 

2. What sort of Christians are represented by the 

Jive wise , or prudent, virgins ? 

Who by the Jive foolish , or improvident, virgins ? 

3, 4. In what way did the former discover their pru¬ 

dence ? 

How did the others show their folly ? 

What is represented by the five wise virgins 
taking oil in the vessels with their lamps ? 
What is represented by the five foolish virgins 
going to meet the bridegroom without oil to 
supply their lamps ? 

5. What may be signified by all the virgins slumber¬ 
ing, while the bridegroom tarried ? 

What was the condition of the foolish virgins 
when the bridegroom came ? 

What is represented by their being refused ad¬ 
mittance to the marriage feast ? 

Why were they not admitted ? 

Did they earnestly desire to gain admittance ? 
What do we learn from the door being shut upon 
them so that they could not enter? 

13. What duty is inculcated by this parable? 

What is the great lesson which it teaches us ? 
For what event should we endeavour to be 
always prepared ? 

Why is it the part of prudence to be habitually 
prepared for death ? 

When should we begin to be prepared for this 
event ? 


9 * 


102 Lesson XXXI. — Matt. xxv. 14-30. 


What is it to be prepared to die ? 

Would it be necessary to make this preparation, 
if there were not a future state of rewards 
and punishments ? 

Why is it unsafe to trust to a death-bed repent¬ 
ance ? 

Will not many seek to enter into the kingdom of 
heaven who will not be able ? 

Why will they not be able ? 

Will any be excluded except through their own 
fault ? 

Are not all invited to come unto Christ? 

Why do many decline the invitation? 

What may we expect to suffer, if we neglect the 
invitations of the gospel? 

In what terms are the fatal effects of heedless¬ 
ness and improvidence exhibited, in Prov. i. 
24-31? 


LESSON XXXI. 

Parable of the Talents. 

Matt. xxv. 14-30. 

14-30. Repeat the parable of the Talents. 

Can you tell me why the terms, the kingdom of 
heaven , in the 14th verse, are printed in our 
Bibles in a different character from the rest of 
the verse ? 



Lesson XXXI. — Matt. xxv. 14-30. 103 


What other terms might be substituted for these 
so as to improve the sentence? 

Why was it proper to represent the Son of man 
as a person travelling into a far country ? 

Who is meant by the Son of man? 

Who are represented by the servants ? 

What is represented by the talents , with which 
the servants are entrusted ? 

What is signified by some receiving more and 
others fewer talents ? 

What persons are represented by the servants 
who put their talents to a good use ? 

Who are represented by the servant that hid his 
lord’s money ? 

What is meant by the time of reckoning ? 

What is meant by the different treatment expe¬ 
rienced by the faithful and the unfaithful ser¬ 
vants ? 

On what principle were the faithful servants ap¬ 
proved and rewarded ? 

What was their reward ? 

Why was one of the servants rejected and con¬ 
demned ? 

What was his condemnation ? 

What excuse did he give for his idleness ? 

Is there any evidence that the character of his 
master was such as is here represented ? 

Is such the character of God or of Jesus Christ ? 

Are not negligent persons apt to frame false and 
unreasonable excuses ? 

How did the Jews attempt to apologize for their 
crimes, as represented in Jeremiah vii. 9,10 ? 


104 Lesson XXXI. — Matt. xxv. 14-30. 


What is the meaning of straived , or strewed ? 

Of what was the slothful servant afraid ? 

Did his fear lead him to perform or to neglect 
his duty ? 

Whenever fear has this effect upon a person, 
ought it to be encouraged ? 

Can you mention any instances in which fear 
may prevent a person from doing his duty ? 

In what way might the slothful servant have 
gained the approbation of his master? 

Why was the talent that was taken from him 
given to the one who had already ten talents ? 

What is meant by giving to one that hath and 
taking away from one that hath not ? 

What else was done to the slothful servant, be¬ 
side taking from him the talent lie had ne¬ 
glected to improve? 

What is represented by this sentence? 

In what light are we taught by this parable to 
view all our privileges and means of improve¬ 
ment ? 

Of whom will most be expected and required ? 

What will be expected of those whose advan¬ 
tages are small ? 

What does God require of every man, whether 
entrusted with few or many talents ? 

Will men be rewarded according to what they 
have received, or according to their improve¬ 
ment of what they have received ? 

What is the rule laid down in Gal. vi. 7, 8 ? 


105 


LESSON XXNII. 

Christ coming to Judgment. 

Matt. xxv. 31-46. 

31. In what state rs Christ represented as coming to ■ 

judge the world ? 

Why is he represented as sitting on a glorious 
throne, attended by angels ? 

32. Who will be gathered before him ? 

32, 33. Into how many classes will they be divided, 
and how will they be placed ? 

What persons are represented by the sheep, and 
who by the goats ? 

34. In what terms is the king represented as ad¬ 

dressing those on his right hand? 

35, 36. On what ground is the reward said to be 

conferred P 

37, 38, 39. What reply do the righteous make to this 
mention of their good deeds ? 

What may we learn from this modest reply ? 

40. What further encouragement does the king give 
them ? 

Who are meant by the least of these my brethren ? 
Can you give any reason why acts of kindness 
and hospitality done to the disciples of Christ, 
in the first ages of Christianity, were pecu¬ 
liarly deserving of reward ? 

What is said on this subject in Matt. x. 40, 41, 
and 42 ? 


106 Lesson XXXII. — Matt. xxv. 31-46. 


41. In what terms is the dreadful doom of the wick¬ 

ed expressed ? 

42, 43. What are the reasons assigned for their con¬ 

demnation ? 

44. How do they attempt to clear themselves of 

guilt ? 

What state of mind is indicated by this reply ? 

45. In what is their guilt said to consist ? 

46. With what awful declaration does Jesus con¬ 

clude his discourse ? 

Will men be rewarded and punished only for 
such virtues and crimes as are here men¬ 
tioned ? 

What else will be taken into the account in fix¬ 
ing the destiny of each ? 

Who will be the Judge ? 

By whom has all judgment been committed unto 
the Son ? John v. 22 and 27. 

Why may we trust in the equity of his decisions ? 
John v. 20 and 30. 

Why was Jesus Christ made our Judge ? Com¬ 
pare John v. 27, with Heb. iv. 15. 

What did Jesus command the Apostles to preach 
in relation to this subject ? Acts x. 42. 

What is meant by quick and dead in this place ? 
What do we learn from the declaration contain¬ 
ed in 2 Cor. v. 10 ? 

How ought wicked men to be affected by the 
doctrine of a judgment to come ? 

How was Felix, the wicked governor of Judea, 
affected by it, when the Apostle Paul preached 
on the subject in his presence ? Acts xxiv. 25. 


Lesson XXXIII. — John xiii. 1-17. 107 


With what feelings ought the doctrine to be 
received by good men ? 

What support did the Apostle Paul derive from 
this doctrine ? 2 Cor. v. 8, 9. 

In what terms did he express his hope of meet¬ 
ing his Christian friends in a future state P 
1 Thcs. ii. 19. 

y' •- ■ ! ■ 


LESSON XXXIII. 

Jesus instructs his Disciples at the last Supper. 

John xiii. 1-17. 

1. On what occasion did Jesus give the instructions 
contained in this and the four following chap¬ 
ters ? 

What hour is here spoken of as having arrived ? 

What is said of the love of Jesus towards his 
disciples ? 

4, 5. What significant act did Jesus perform on ris¬ 
ing from the table ? 

What was tfye dress of the Jews ? 

Was not washing the feet before meals a com¬ 
mon practice among the Jews ? 

By whom was this service commonly performed ? 

6. What was Peter’s remark when Jesus came to 
wash his feet ? 



108 Lesson XXXIII. — John xiii. 1-17. 


What is implied in this remark ? 

What was there in this act of Jesus to excite the 
surprise of Peter ? 

7. Does Jesus immediately explain the meaning of 

this symbolical act ? 

When did Jesus say that Peter should under¬ 
stand the meaning of it ? 

Does he here refer to some distant period, or 
only to a subsequent part of the discourse, 
where Jesus explains the design of what he 
had been doing ? 

8. Did this promise of an explanation at some future 

time satisfy Peter ? 

Why was Peter so unwilling to submit to this 
ceremony ? 

What remark of Jesus at length overcomes his 
opposition ? 

What is probably the meaning of this remark ? 

9. In what terms does Peter now express his readi¬ 

ness to yield to the wishes of Jesus ? 

What trait of character is exhibited in the con¬ 
duct of Peter on this occasion ? 

10. Why was it necessary for a person, that had just 

bathed, to wash more than his feet ? 

Did Jesus intend this remark to be understood in 
a literal or in a moral sense ? 

What then is its meaning ? 

11. Why did he say that they were not all clean ? 
12-14. What is the explanation which Jesus gives of 

the symbolical action which he had just per¬ 
formed ? 


Lesson XXXIII.— John. xiii. 1-17. 109 


What is meant by washing one another's feet ? 

15. How is this duty enforced ? 

After this, could the disciples have any excuse 
for refusing to be kind and condescending 
one to another ? 

16. What reason does Jesus give, why the disciples 

ought not to indulge a proud and overbearing 
spirit ? 

Can you show the application of the remark con¬ 
tained in this verse ? 

17. Is it sufficient to admit the excellence of this 

lesson ? 

What more is required ? 

Can you mention some of the ways in which the 
example of Jesus, in the case here mentioned, 
may be imitated P 

Are there any persons so poor and degraded as 
not to be worthy of your notice ? 

What should you endeavour to do for those who 
have fewer advantages than yourself? 

Should it be considered degrading, or honorable, 
to perform offices of kindness to an inferior ? 
What precept is given on this subject, in the 
middle clause of the 16th verse of Rom. xii ? 


10 


110 




LESSON XXXIV. 

Instructions of Jesus at the Last Supper, continued. 
John xiv. 1-17. 

1. What does Jesus say to comfort his disciples in 

prospect of the separation that was shortly to 
take place between them ? 

Why would a belief in God give them comfort ? 
What was there in the instructions and promises 
of Jesus Christ to assuage their grief? 

2. What does Jesus teach respecting his Father's 

house ? 

What is meant by his Father's house ? 

What is meant by the many mansions, or apart¬ 
ments, in his Father’s house ? 

For ivhat purpose did Jesus intimate that he was 
about to go thither ? 

3. What did he promise that he would do, when he 

should come again ? 

When will this be ? 

How ought his sincere disciples to be affected 
by this assurance ? 

6. What was our Lord’s reply to Thomas, who pro¬ 
fessed not to know the way , of which Jesus 
had just spoken ? 

In what sense is Jesus the way, the truth, and the 
life? 

By whom have we access to the Father ? 


Lesson XXXIV. — John xiv. 1-17. Ill 


What is meant by coming to the Father ly Jesus 
Christ ? 

What is written in 1 Tim. ii. 5 ? 

7. In what way does Jesus say that his disciples 

might have known his Father ? 

8. What request does Philip make ? 

What Philip is here meant? 

9. What does Jesus say in answer to Philip’s re¬ 

quest ? 

How could a person, who had seen Jesus, be 
said to have seen his Father ? 

Who is meant by the Father ? 

In what respects was Jesus like God ? 

10. In what terms does Jesus express the intimate 

union which subsisted between himself and 
God? 

In what terms is this union expressed in John x. 
30? 

For what does Jesus pray in behalf of his disci¬ 
ples, in John xvii. 21 ? 

In what sense may sincere Christians be said to 
be one with Christ and with God ? 

11. Did Jesus require his disciples to believe, on his 

bare word, that he was in the Father and the 
Father in him ? 

To what did he appeal in support of his claims 
to this honor ? 

What is meant by the very works' sake? 

Can you show how the miracles of Jesus prove 
that he had divine authority ? 

12. What assurance did Jesus give his disciples in 

regard to miraculous powers ? 


112 Lesson XXXIV. — John xiv. 1-17. 


How was this verified in the history of the 
church? 

In what sense could some of the miracles of the 
Apostles be said to be greater than those of 
Jesus ? 

What connexion was there between the miracu¬ 
lous powers of the Apostles, and Jesus’s going 
to his Father ? 

What is said on this subject, in Acts ii. 33 ? 

13. What did Jesus promise to do for his disciples ? 

In whose name were they directed to ask for 
miraculous powers ? 

What is it to ask any thing in the name of 
Christ ? 

To ivhom were they to pray in the name of 
Christ? 

Had the disciples been accustomed to pray to 
the Father in the name of Christ , while he was 
yet with them ? John xvi. 24. 

How would the Father be glorified by the Son’s 
bestowing miraculous gifts upon the Apostles ? 

16. What other encouragement does Jesus give to 
his disciples ? 

What is meant by the comforter , or advocate, for 
which the disciples of Jesus were to look 
after his removal from them ? See v. 17. 

What is the office of an advocate ? 

How had Jesus discharged that office ? 

How was it supplied by the Holy Spirit ? 

Was the Spirit of truth, or the gift of the Holy 
Spirit, bestowed on all indiscriminately, or 
only on those who embraced the gospel ? 


Lesson XXXV. — John xiv. 18-31. 113 


Why was it not bestowed on others? 

Why is the Holy Spirit called the Spirit of truth ? 
On what conditions was it promised in the dis¬ 
course of Peter on the day of Pentecost ? 
Acts ii. 38. 

On whom does Jesus say that the Holy Spirit 
would be bestowed, in Luke xi. 13 ? 


LESSON XXXV. 

Instructions of Jesus at the Last Supper, continued. 
John xiv. 18-31. 

18. What else did Jesus say to comfort his disciples ? 
What did he intend by saying that he would not 

leave them comfortless, or orphans ? 

What is an orphan ? 

Why would not the disciples be left as orphans 
when Jesus should he separated from them ? 
When he promised that he would return, did he 
mean that he would return in person, or only 
by the spiritual influence which they would 
receive ? 

19. What did he say would happen in a little while ? 
How would his disciples be able to see him, while 

the world would see him no more ? 

What connexion was there between our Lord’s 
return to life, and the resurrection of his dis¬ 
ciples ? 


10 * 


114 Lesson XXXV. — John xiv. 18-31. 


20. Of what would the disciples be convinced at that 

day , or after his return to life ? 

How would they be convinced of this union ? 

21. To whom does Jesus promise to manifest him¬ 

self? 

What then is the only sure test of love to Christ ? 

22. What question did Judas ask respecting this 

manifestation of Christ ? 

What Judas was this? 

In what sense did he probably understand the 
words of Jesus ? 

23. What was the reply of Jesus ? 

What is to be understood by Jesus and the Fa¬ 
ther coming and making their abode with the 
disciples ? 

Was this promise intended for all Christians in 
all ages, or only for such as lived in the age 
of miracles ? 

In what sense may it be said of all true Chris¬ 
tians in every age, that God and Christ dwell 
in them ? 

24. What would a neglect to obey Christ indicate ? 
With what authority does Jesus claim to speak ? 
Whom then do we disobey when we disobey 

Christ? 

25. 26. In what way would the disciples be assisted 

to recall and to understand what he was now 
saying to them ? 

Why is the Holy Spirit called the comforter , or 
the advocate ? 

27. In what terms did Jesus express his kind wishes 
and affectionate solicitude for his disciples ? 


Lesson XXXV. — John xiv. 18-31. 115 

What was the common form of salutation among 
the Jews ? See John xx. 19, 21, 26. 

Are not forms of salutation frequently used with¬ 
out reflection, and without intending what the 
words express ? 

In what respects did the parting salutation of 
Jesus differ from those which are used'in the 
common intercourse of life ? 

What is included in that peace which Jesus be¬ 
queathed to his disciples ? 

28. Of what former declaration of his does Jesus 

remind his disciples ? See v. 3. 

Why ought the disciples to have rejoiced at this 
declaration ? 

What encouragement could they derive from the 
circumstance that Jesus was going to a Being 
greater than himself? 

If we believe, on good grounds, that a friend of 
ours is taken to a better world, ought we 
rather to grieve or to rejoice on his account? 

Does excessive grief on such an occasion betray 
more affection for our friend, or regard for 
our own selfish gratification ? 

29. Why did Jesus say these things at that time ? 

30. Why would he not have opportunity to converse 

much with his disciples after this time ? 

What is meant by the coming of the prince of this 
world ? 

How long after this was Jesus seized by a band 
of Roman soldiers ? 

10f 


116 Lesson XXXVI. — Jo/m xv. 1-17. 


Did Pilate, the Roman governor, find any thing 
in Jesus worthy of blame ? John xix. 4. 

31. To what place did Jesus and his disciples repair 
on leaving the room where they had eaten the 
- passover ? 

Did he know what would befall him in the gar¬ 
den of Cethsemane? 

Why then did he go thither ? 

How did his going thither prove that he loved 
the Father, and was willing to do as the 
Father had given him commandment ? 


LESSON XXXVI. 

Instructions of Jesus at the Last Supper, continued . 

John xv. 1-17. 

1, 2. What comparison does Jesus introduce to show 
the union between himself and his disciples? 

Who is represented by the vine, and who by the 
branches ? 

Who is the husbandman, or the vine-dresser ? 

What does the vine-dresser do with the barren 
branch ? 

What is done with the branch which produces 
fruit ? 

Why is it purged or pruned ? 



Lesson XXXVI. — John xv. 1-17. 117 


3. In what way does Jesus say that his disciples 
had been made clean ? 

What is meant by being made clean by the word 
of Christ ? 

4, 5. What was it still necessary for them to do ? 
How does Jesus illustrate the importance of tlieir 
remaining united to him ? 

What is it to be united with Christ ? 

What is meant by the disciples bearing fruit ? 
Why will a union with Christ enable a person to 
bring forth much fruit? 

Is this union with Christ essential to the forma¬ 
tion of a religious character? 

6. How does Jesus represent the condition of one 

who forsakes him ? 

7. What is promised to those who should remain 

his true disciples ? 

8. What is to be the true disciples of Christ ? 

How does Jesus say that his Father would be 

glorified ? 

In what way then can we promote the glory of 
God? 

9, 10. By what means could the disciples hope to 
retain the love of their Saviour ? 

How did Jesus secure the love of his heavenly 
Father ? 

Is there any other way to secure the love of God 
and of Christ, than that which is here men¬ 
tioned ? 

11. With what special design did Jesus exhort his 
disciples to steadfastness in his religion ? 


118 Lesson XXXVI. — John xv. 1-17. 


12. What special commandment did he give them ? 
What was there peculiar in the love of Christ 

for his disciples ? 

13. What is the highest proof of affection that can 

be shown by one person to another ? . 

Was this spirit of martyrdom required of the dis¬ 
ciples of our Lord ? 

Is it required of Christians now? 

How will this spirit show itself where it is felt 
and cherished ? 

14. Who are the true friends of Jesus? 

15. Why does Jesus call his disciplesyKentfs and not 

sei'vants ? 

Are we to understand from this declaration, that 
he communicated to his disciples all the 
knowledge which he had received from God, 
or only all that concerned them ? 

16. Had the Apostles, to whom these discourses were 

addressed, raised themselves to the apostolic 
office, or had they been appointed to that 
office by Jesus himself? 

For what purpose were they chosen and or¬ 
dained ? 

What were the peculiar duties of an Apostle ? 
What encouragement would they have, so long 
as they continued faithful, to pray to the Fa¬ 
ther for direction and aid in the discharge of 
the duties of their office ? 

What encouragement have all Christians to pray 
to God ? Luke xi. 9-13. 

17. What command does Jesus again give to his 

disciples ? 


Lesson XXXVII .—John xvii. 1-11. 119 


What may we infer from the fact that Christians 
are so often exhorted and commanded to love 
one another ? 

What is said of him who kateth his brother , in 
1 John iii. 15 ? 

Will it be of any avail for a person to pretend 
that he loves God, while he hates his brother ? 
1 John iv. 20. 

Will it be sufficient for him to profess much love 
for his fellow-beings, while he does nothing to 
benefit them? James ii. 15, 16; 1 John iii. 18. 


LESSON XXXVII. 

Christ prays for Himself and his Disciples. 

John xvii. 1-11. 

1. After Jesus had finished his discourse what did 
he do and say ? 

What did he mean by saying that the hour is 
come ? 

Do you recollect any other instances in which 
he spoke of his approaching death in similar 
terms ? 

In praying that God would glorify his Son , did 
Jesus seek his own glory, or only the oppor¬ 
tunity of promoting the glory of God by saving 
men from sin and misery ? See John viii. 50. 



120 Lesson XXXVII. — John xvii. 1-11. 


2. What authority had Jesus received from God ? 

3. What is life eternal, or how may it be obtained P 
What is the Being, to whom Jesus prayed, here 

.called ? 

In what terms does Jesus speak of himself? 

In what does the true knowledge of God and of 
Jesus Christ consist ? 

Will it be sufficient to ensure our salvation that 
we entertain right views of God and of Jesus 
Christ ? 

What more is necessary ? 

4. What had Jesus done on the earth ? 

How had he glorified God in his ministry ? 

What was the work which he had finished ? 

5. For what else does Jesus pray in his own behalf? 
What was the glory which he had with the 

Father before the world was ? 

What does he say of his glory in verse 22. 

What is said of the dignity to which Jesus was 
exalted, in Philip, ii. 9, 10, 11? 

6. Unto whom had Jesus manifested the name, or 

the character, of God ? 

In what sense were these men, that is, the disci¬ 
ples, given to Christ? 

7, 8. What had Jesus communicated to them ? 

Of what had they become convinced ? 

9. For whom does Jesus pray ? 

Why does he pray-particularly for his disciples, 
and not for the world ? 

Did none but the disciples of our Lord share in 
the benefit of his prayers ? See v. 20. 


Lesson XXXVIII. — John xvii. 12-26. 121 


10. What does Jesus say to intimate the union and 

cooperation between himself and the Father ? 

11. What did Jesus ask God to do for his disciples 

when he himself should be taken away from 
them ? 

What is meant by keeping them through the name, 
or in the name, of God ? 

Jesus prayed that his disciples might he one ; 

what is the meaning of this petition ? 

In what sense are Jesus and God one ? 

What is necessary in order that Christians may 
be one ? 

What directions does the Apostle give us on this 
subject, in Eph. iv. 2, 3, 31, 32 ? 

If these directions were followed, what change 
would take place in the condition of the 
churches of our Lord in every place and of 
every name ? 


LESSON XXXVIII. 

The Prayer of our Lord , continued. 
John xvii. 12-26. 


12. What had Jesus done for his disciples, while he 
was with them in the world ? 

What means did he employ to save them from 
evil ? 



122 Lesson XXXVIII. — John xvii. 12-26. 


Had all remained faithful to him ? 

Who is meant by the son of perdition , who was 
lost ? 

What passage of Scripture is supposed to be 
alluded to in this place ? Ps. xli. 9, or cix. 8. 

13. To whom was Jesus about to go ? 

Why did he offer this prayer while we was pre¬ 
sent with his disciples ? 

Does Jesus here pray that he might have joy in 

. his disciples, or that his disciples might have 
joy in him ? 

14. What had Jesus imparted to his disciples ? 

Why were they hated by the world ? 

In what sense could it be said of Jesus and his 
disciples that they were not of the world ? 

15. Did Jesus pray that they might be taken out of 

the world, on account of the temptations and 
sufferings to which they would be exposed ? 

What then did he ask God to do for them ? 

Is it lawful in any case to pray unconditionally 
that death may come to put an end to our 
misery ? 

What may we learn from the example of our 
Lord in this particular ? Luke xxii. 42. 

17. Through ivhat did Jesus pray that his disciples 
might be sanctified ? 

What truth is here meant ? 

What is the meaning of sanctify ? 

Is the word of God fitted to sanctify the heart? 

What is written on this subject, in Psalm xix. 7, 
8,9? 


Lesson XXXVIII. — John xvii, 12-26. 123 


What is necessary in order that the word of 
God may have this effect? See 1 Peter i. 
22, 23. 

18. From whom did Jesus receive his commission ? 
From whom did the Apostles receive their com¬ 
mission ? 

19. Why did Jesus sanctify himself or set himself 

apart and devote himself to the office of a 
divine teacher and Saviour? 

20. For what other persons, beside the Apostles,*did 

Jesus pray ? 

What persons are here meant ? 

21. What petition did he offer in behalf of all such ? 
How would this union and cooperation of Chris¬ 
tians tend to convince the world that Jesus 
was sent by God, and that his religion was 
divine ? 

22. 23. What glory does Jesus say that he had given 

to his Apostles? 

What is meant by this glory ? 

What was this gift designed to effect ? 

24. What desire does Jesus express in regard to the 

condition of his disciples in the future world? 
Will not this desire be accomplished? Seel 
Thes. ii. 19, and iv. 13-17. 

What should be the conduct of every man that 
hath this hope ? 1 John iii. 3. 

25. What plea does Jesus urge in behalf of his dis¬ 

ciples ? 

What is said of the efficacy of this knowledge in 
the third verse of this chapter ? 


124 Lesson XXXVIII. — John xvii. 12-26. 


26. What does Jesus say that he has done, and will 
continue to do, for his disciples? 

What reason does he give for doing this? 

Jesus labored to render his disciples worthy of 
the favor and love of Almighty God ; what 
excellent trait of character does this conduct 
exhibit ? 

Can you point out any particulars in the life and 
ministry of our Saviour, which prove that he 
was actuated by pure, disinterested benevo¬ 
lence ? 

With what sentiments ought you to regard one 
who has so loved us, as cheerfully to sacrifice 
his life that he might reconcile us to God ? 

What is the only return you can make for the 
immense favors which he has conferred upon 
you ? 

Is it not an evidence of great inconsideratoness } 
or of base ingratitude, to decline the invita¬ 
tions and to refuse to obey the commands of 
so kind a friend ? 


THE END. 









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